(a) whether the Government has created/proposes to create a database on the ancestral knowledge of the tribal people;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to assist efforts to document/protect traditional knowledge in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS; (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (c): No, Madam. The Ministry of Science & Technology has no specific programme to document/protect the traditional knowledge of tribal population. The Tribal Sub-Plan scheme of the Department of Science & Technology provides opportunities to motivated scientists, technologists and field level S & T organizations to take up action oriented and location specific projects aiming at socio-economic upliftment of tribal population through appropriate technological interventions.
However, to document/protect traditional knowledge of the tribal people in the country, Tribal Cooperation Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has made an effort to prepare briefs on the products/crafts practiced by the tribals and their marketing. National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystems (NMSHE) under Department of Science & Technology is also making an effort to study traditional knowledge systems so as to generate a strong data base through monitoring and analysis and eventually create a knowledge base for policy interventions.