Empowering Tribal Entrepreneurs: Symposium on Building a Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes

• January 28, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, convened a significant Symposium on the Advancement of the Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes, uniting prominent Venture Capitalists and Impact Investors to deliberate on strategies for empowering tribal entrepreneurs and promoting inclusive growth. The Government of India is resolute in its dedication to empowering tribal populations. The establishment of a resilient startup ecosystem among Scheduled Tribes is a primary project within the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' 100-day plan.

To initiate this transformative project, MoTA has conducted comprehensive brainstorming meetings with leading institutions such as IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited, and industry groups to guarantee a grassroots-level impact. The establishment of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes, with an initial corpus of â‚ą50 crore, is a crucial advancement in supporting entrepreneurship and nurturing innovation within these communities.

Projects under Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)

• December 11, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) was announced as a new Central Sector scheme, with 100% Central funding in the Union Budget 2022-23 with initial outlay of Rs.1500 crore. The Union Cabinet on 12 October 2022 approved the Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6600 crore for the period from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-2026. 35 projects worth Rs. 4857.11 crore have been sanctioned under the Scheme up to 30.11.2024.

UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth recognizes six bold environmental leaders

• December 10, 2024

Source: United Nations Environment Programme

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the beneficiaries of the 2024 Champions of the Earth, recognized for their exemplary leadership, courageous acts, and sustainable solutions to address land degradation, drought, and desertification. This year's recipients comprise a minister of Indigenous Peoples, an environmental champion, a sustainable agricultural effort, an Indigenous rights proponent, a scientist specializing in afforestation, and an innovative ecologist. The biennial Champions of the Earth award, the United Nations' premier environmental accolade, acknowledges pioneers leading initiatives to safeguard humanity and the world. Since 2005, the award has honored 122 laureates for exceptional and inspirational environmental leadership.

The Champions include:

Ms Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category, has been advocating for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. Ms Guajajara became Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples and the country’s first female Indigenous minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 13 territories have been recognized as Indigenous land to ward off deforestation, illegal logging, and drug traffickers. 
 
Ms Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate honoured in the Inspiration and Action category, is using her legal expertise and passion for restoration to secure a better future for the Yurok tribe and the Klamath River in the United States. Ms Cordalis’ work to restore the river ecosystem and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing practices demonstrate how bold environmental action can bring significant positive change, while upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and livelihoods.

Tropical plant Subabul shows potential in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes

• December 04, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Researchers have identified the therapeutic potential of the seedpods from the traditional medicinal plant Subabul in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes and developed a marker-assisted fraction and four active compounds from it. Subabul or Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit is a fast-growing leguminous tree commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The leaves and immature seeds are eaten in the form of soups or salad, both raw and cooked, providing a rich source of protein and fibre, leading to its traditional usage in human and animal food by different ethnic communities. Researchers in the CBL-I at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, investigated the therapeutic potential of the seedpods from the traditional medicinal plant Subabul in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes.

Promotion of Traditional Sports

• December 02, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including promotion of traditional sports and holding their competitions, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government only supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. However, the ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’ sub-component of the Khelo India Scheme, is specifically dedicated to the development and promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games in the country. Indigenous/traditional games of Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam have been identified for promotion under this component and these games are part of annually organised Khelo India University/ Youth Games.

Leaders to convene at COP29 in Baku on aligning climate action, biodiversity conservation, and Indigenous knowledge for a nature-positive future

• November 21, 2024

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

The COP29 Presidency and IUCN are co-hosting dedicated Nature Day events on 21 November 2024 at COP29 in Baku, focusing on “Nature and Biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples, Gender Equality, Oceans and Coastal Zones”. The first event is titled the High-Level Dialogue on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ Traditional Knowledge: The Heart of the Climate-Nature Nexus.This event will feature Indigenous leaders and community representatives who will emphasise the vital role of traditional knowledge in safeguarding critical ecosystems and protecting Mother Earth. Key insights from IPLC territories will emphasise how investments in land rights and self-determined conservation enhance community resilience to climate change. With both state and non-state sector representatives, the dialogue will focus on concrete actions to support IPLC contributions and rights within the climate-nature nexus, promoting the integration of Indigenous knowledge into global strategies.

CSIR-NIScPR takes Traditional Knowledge Global with CDTK 2024

• November 17, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) and Gurugram University jointly hosted the International Conference on Communication and Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge (CDTK-2024) at Gurugram University, Gurugram on 13-14 November 2024.The conference's first day featured diverse sessions, including discussions on integrating traditional pedagogies into modern education, ethics in traditional knowledge research, and the science behind traditional agriculture and cuisine. Additional sessions explored sustainable traditional architecture, integrating ancient sciences into modern disciplines, and effective communication of traditional knowledge through the "Paramparik Gyan Sanchar: SVASTIK workshop.

Pacific climate and traditional knowledge stories from ABCID initiative on show at COP29

• November 16, 2024

Source: ABC International Development

Pacific storytellers’ work to document traditional environmental and cultural knowledge at risk of being lost due to climate change is being seen by thousands at the 2024 UN climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Decisions made at the UN Climate meetings (COP) can both positively and negatively affect the lives of countless communities across the Pacific, and the Pacific Pavilion is the key place at COP meetings for Pacific leaders, storytellers and advocates to convey the region’s position on climate matters; most notably, the call for greater investment in adaptation, and binding emission reduction targets.

The COP 29 Pacific Pavilion stories include an insight from Nauruan journalist Tayla Bond into the protective walls that pandanus trees have provided to families in Nauru for centuries, while First Nations Australian reporter, Talicia Minniecon looks at the growing international kava export industry in the Pacific, and the threat posed to it by climate change.

"Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration are essential to Disseminate India's Traditional Knowledge" Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, President, South Asian University

• November 13, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) and Gurugram University jointly inaugurated the International Conference on Communication and Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge (CDTK-2024) at the auditorium of Gurugram University, Gurugram on 13 November 2024. Prof Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi, provided an overview of SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge), highlighting its significance in promoting scientifically validated Indian traditional knowledge. SVASTIK, a national initiative, is coordinated by CSIR-NIScPR. The initiative was launched to communicate scientifically validated traditional knowledge of India to society. Prof Aggarwal added that NIScPR has disseminated socially engaging SVASTIK stories in 17 Indian languages via social media. Moreover, our two SVASTIK publications provide authenticated stories on traditional knowledge, inspiring young students to explore science.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr Shekhar C. Mande, Distinguished Professor, Savitribai Phule Pune Universityand Former Director General CSIR & Secretary DSIR, Government of India. Dr. Mande emphasized the critical role of combining traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches, citing instances where the international community has acknowledged the achievements of Indian scholars.

COP16 connects biodiversity and health with traditional medicine as a bridge

• November 07, 2024

Source: World Health Organization

Traditional Medicine was a key theme during the first-ever Biodiversity and Health Day during the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), in Cali, Colombia. Taking forward the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework established at COP 15, global participants this year focused on integrating One Health strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss, manage zoonotic disease risks, and strengthen financial and ecological commitments to human, animal and environmental health and well-being. 

WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) colleagues participated in various sessions, including a high-level breakfast, co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO. The event explored “whole of government” approaches that integrate biodiversity conservation with human well-being. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director, a.i. of GTMC, said: “GTMC’s dedicated unit on Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity emerged from recommendations of the First WHO Tradition Medicine Global Summit in 2023. This reflects WHO's commitment to honoring and incorporating Indigenous Knowledges within global health, One Health and biodiversity frameworks.”