NEW DELHI:
A study by the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) that revealed alarming erosion in the traditional knowledge passed down to tribals in Kerala by their ancestors has formed the basis for calls in the Rajya Sabha for government action to preserve the knowledge and skills of these communities.
In a special mention during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, K. Somaprasad, MP, raised the issue on the floor of the House following the publication of a report on the study conducted by the Thiruvananthapuram-based IIITM-K among the Kurichyar, Kattunaikkar (Wayanad); Cholanaikkar, Paniyar (Nilambur); Irular, Kurumbar (Palakkad); and Kaanikkar, Malapandaram (Kollam) tribal groups in the Western Ghats.
Statistical analysis of the compiled data showed that the Kurichya and Kurumba tribals have lost more than half their traditional knowledge; Cholanaikar and Malapandaram tribals have lost 33 per cent; while the Kaani and the Kattunaikkar have lost 40 to 45 per cent. Malapandaram tribals have ‘very least traditionally-acquired knowledge before and now’.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the MP said that the tribal community and their traditional knowledge are the integral part of our heritage and culture and the loss was alarming.
“My appeal is that adequate measures should be taken to prevent further erosion. Moreover, the government should give all sort of assistance to the study team,” he urged, noting that the issue is of vital national importance.
“More than 1,500 forms of traditional knowledge are retained by Indian tribal communities. Many of them have been stolen and patented by vested groups. The rate of erosion varies from 1 to 80 percent. This indicates that the traditional knowledge retained by the members of the community is vanishing,” Somaprasad said.
The study revealed that the dwindling of traditionally-inherited knowledge is mostly among youth, and especially among men. “The study reveals that the need of effective and urgent intervention to plug further erosion of traditional knowledge. The ethnic multiplicity of our nation is ancient and unique. Our country is enriched with more than 200 ethnic groups. The tribal communities and the repository of traditional knowledge are an integral part of our culture,” he added.
The first-of-its-kind study in India was led by Dr. Jaishankar. R. Nair, Head of the C.V. Raman Laboratory of Ecological Informatics at IIITM-K. The survey team comprised Saroj Kumar V., Sooraj N. P., M. Somasekharan Pillai; and Ram Boojh.
