Parliament Question: Protection of Rights of Tribal Groups in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3381 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2026 PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF TRIBAL GROUPS IN TAMIL NADU 3381. SHRI MANI A Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any measures to protect the rights and ensure equitable benefit-sharing of local communities, traditional healers and tribal groups in Tamil Nadu who possess traditional knowledge relating to Ayurveda and medicinal herbs, particularly in districts such as Dharmapuri and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the mechanisms in place to regulate benefit-sharing arrangements between AYUSH manufacturing companies, herbal traders and such knowledge holders, including safeguards against unauthorised commercial exploitation; (c) whether any financial assistance, royalties, capacity-building programmes or community development initiatives have been extended to eligible communities in Tamil Nadu during the last five years, district-wise and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the further steps proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen transparency, legal protection and fair compensation for traditional knowledge holders in the State? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d)Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/ UT Government for overall development and promotion of Ayush systems across the country through States/ UTs including Tamil Nadu. Under NAM, Ministry of Ayush supports the efforts of State/ UT Government by providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines against their submitted State Annual Plans (SAAPs). Public Health being State subject, improvement of infrastructure, training and capacity building for Ayush professionals comes under purview of respective State Government. However, the Research Council(s) of Ministry of Ayush namely Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) provides Ayurveda healthcare services in tribal areas across the country through the Tribal Health Care Research Programme (THCRP) under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), implemented through 14 CCRAS institutes in 14 States, including the Dr Achanta Lakshmipathi Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (ALRARI), Chennai and Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CSMCARI), Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The primary objective of the programme is to 1provide Ayurveda healthcare services directly to tribal communities. The Council also documents prevalent Local Health Traditions (LHTs), Ethno-Medicinal Practices (EMPs), and folklore claims among tribal populations. Moreover, Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden & Research Centre (SMPG&RC), Salem, Tamil Nadu functioning under Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) also conducts Health Camps through Swasthya Rakshan Programme for the tribal hamlets of Palamalai Hills for 5 years. CCRS has taken initiatives to promote, validate and ensure Knowledge sharing through IMR projects for documenting folklore knowledge & traditional practitioners like “Survey on the traditional and common uses of medicinal plants from Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu” - The Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu, India, has a diverse range of tribal communities. The study was designed in Dharmapuri District to document the existing medico-ethnobotanical knowledge among the three tribal communities, the Malayali, Irula, and Kurumba, in the treatment of a wide range of common ailments. Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden (SMPG), Mettur Dam functioning under CCRS organised Awareness program for the Government Tribal Residential Schools (Elementary and High School), Ramanpatti, Palamalai, Tamil Nadu during 2024. Siddha Regional Research Institute (SRRI), Puducherry organised Tribal Ayush Awareness health camp at Jally home, Puducherry during 2025. Efforts have been made for screening and conducting research to manage anemia, malnutrition in tribal region with Siddha intervention and Siddha Aahaar. Health camp for screening anemia has been conducted during June 2026 at Tribal hamlet of Kalrayan Hills, Salem, Tamil Nadu through CCRS. ***** 2