**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1113, addressed to the Minister of AYUSH on July 25, 2025, regarding the promotion of traditional tribal medicinal practices among the Karbi and Dimasa communities in Assam, the Ministry of AYUSH states the following:
The Department of Health Research (DHR) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has not received any proposals seeking recognition of specific traditional tribal medicinal practices prevalent among the Karbi and Dimasa communities in Assam.
However, the Medico Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS) of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences-Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CCRAS-CARI), Guwahati, is actively documenting these practices under a project titled "Critical appraisal and validation of Local Health Traditions (LHTs), Oral Health Traditions (OHTs) and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMPs): An inclusive study among Ethnic communities of Northeast India," with support from the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH.
Furthermore, the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat, conducted a two-day workshop on "Documentation of Ethnomedicine practices and capacity building of the Traditional Healers among the Karbi ethnic Group" on February 27-28, 2025.
Both CCRAS-CARI, Guwahati, and NEIAFMR, Pasighat, autonomous organizations under the Ministry of AYUSH, are involved in the documentation, research, and validation of these indigenous knowledge systems.
The government does not propose to integrate such tribal practices into formal AYUSH systems or promote them under the National AYUSH Mission. Therefore, further details are not applicable.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The Indian government ministry responsible for developing and promoting traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
Shri Amarsing Tisso: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of traditional tribal medicinal practices.
Karbi community: A tribal community in Assam, India, whose traditional medicinal practices are mentioned in the policy document.
Dimasa community: A tribal community in Assam, India, whose traditional medicinal practices are mentioned in the policy document.
Assam: A state in Northeast India where the Karbi and Dimasa communities are located.
National AYUSH Mission: A government initiative to promote and develop AYUSH systems of medicine.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav: The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of AYUSH who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda Folk Medicine Research NEIAFMR, Pasighat: An autonomous organization under Ministry of Ayush involved in documentation, research and validation of indigenous knowledge systems, located in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1113
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
Promotion of Traditional Tribal Medicinal Practices
1113. Shri Amarsing Tisso:
Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to recognize and document traditional tribal
medicinal practices prevalent among Karbi and Dimasa communities in Assam and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the details of agencies involved in the documentation, research and validation of such
indigenous knowledge systems;
(c) whether the Government proposes to integrate such tribal practices into formal AYUSH
systems or promote them under the National AYUSH Mission; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b) No such proposal has been received in Department of Health Research (DHR)
under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare seeking recognition of any specific
traditional tribal medicinal practice which may be prevalent among Karbi and Dimasa
communities in Assam.
Medico Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS) of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic
Sciences- Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CCRAS-CARI) Guwahati is involved in
documenting the traditional tribal medicinal practices under project entitled “Critical
appraisal and validation of Local Health Traditions (LHTs), Oral Health Traditions (OHTs)
and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMPs): An inclusive study among Ethnic communities of
Northeast India” supported by NMPB, Ministry of Ayush. Moreover, a Two Day Workshop
on "Documentation of Ethnomedicine practices and capacity building of the Traditional
Page 1 of 2Healers among the Karbi ethnic Group" was conducted on 27-28th Feb 2025 by North Eastern
Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat.
CCRAS-CARI, Guwahati & NEIAFMR, Pasighat, autonomous organizations under Ministry
of Ayush are involved in the documentation, research and validation of such indigenous
knowledge systems.
(c) No.
(d) Does not arise.
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