Introduction
Tribal communities of India have rich knowledge systems of traditional medicines. These systems and their practitioners, healers, can be enormously useful if they are properly integrated with the primary healthcare delivery systems in India.
The traditional medical practitioner or traditional healer can be defined as “someone who is recognized by the community in which he lives as competent to provide health care by using vegetable, animal and mineral substances and certain other methods based on the social, cultural and religious backgrounds as well as the prevailing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding physical, mental and social well-being and the causation of disease and disability in the community”.
Need & Importance
“Tribal practices were not recognized earlier, but if they maintain indigenous ecosystems among themselves and enable others to study their systems, then everybody can benefit from it.” Satyavathi Rathod, The minister of ST Welfare, Government of Telangana.
“Tribal communities must be more empowered to access mainstream healthcare. According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), eight in 10 people in developing countries depend on traditional medicine for primary health care.” Shoko Noda, resident representative, UNDP.
These are some ways to Mainstream and Systemise Tribal Healers
Attitudinal Change
Moreover, people belonging to tribal backgrounds are seen as backward by society due to their customary habits and beliefs. In such a context, there is a need to bring positive changes at the societal, regional, and national levels towards tribal communities as they deserve special priorities for their welfare and upliftment. Besides institutional measures, attitudinal change in society as well as among the police is needed to bring a discrimination-free environment and further integration of the tribal community into the mainstream.
Traditional Wisdom to Employment
Inclusive development in India cannot take place without the contribution of inhabitants of tribal areas. Tribal communities have a vital legacy of knowledge about traditional medicinal systems. Their traditional wisdom and practical knowledge of the usage of herbal medicines can become a source of livelihood for tribal groups if the government supports them. The production of indigenous medicines can also assist the Indian economy to prosper in harmony with tribal communities and further mainstream the tribal communities.
Initiate Activities or Projects
Pilot projects can be taken up to see if PHCs in tribal areas can offer herbal traditional medicines along with modern medicines. The Chinese have done this successfully. Modern medicine can be offered by a nurse or pharmacist if the doctor is not available. Traditional medicine can be offered by a local traditional healer in the same PHC with a formal or informal arrangement with the local community.
Improvement in Healthcare
Traditional healers can be sensitized as well as trained to “deliver simple interventions like ORS for diarrhea and anti-malarial as well as to refer patients to the Primary Health Centres promptly”.
Promoting Tribal Healers and Practices
The tribal health care practices and system of treating diseases are based on their deep observation and belief in nature and it is also as per the ecological setup of the area. Hence, the good one of these traditional healers may be promoted for the welfare of the rural society. This will not only promote community involvement and awareness but also raise the status of healthcare, traditional healers, and healing practices in rural areas.
Preservation and Collaboration
The younger generation losing interest in the traditional methods must also be made aware to protect, preserve, and promote effective traditional healing practices and valuable herbal plants before they get lost due to the impact of modernization, urbanization, and deforestation. Correct, collaborative, and effective implementation of traditional medicinal practices along with proper coordination with modern medicinal practices can prove more fruitful in this perspective.
Involving The Government and Civil Organizations:
Steps taken by various government departments and NGOs in this direction in recent years would strengthen the traditional healthcare systems. This type of initiative will enable developing countries to look inward rather than continuing to rely on expensive, imported medicines that have side effects. Also to:
- give due recognition to their contribution and involvement;
- delineate the specific scope, limit, and role of traditional healers in public health promotion;
- undertake research and development activities;
- provide orientation and support to folk healers;
- monitor and strengthen the role of folk healers and do proper follow-up.
Making Connections with Tribal Healers
Creativity
When collaborating with Tribals, unique welfare and Social issues combined with a distinct lack of precedent in collaboration demand a high amount of creativity in each stage of relationship development. Which can support us to gain trust and attraction from Tribal to connect with them.
Patience
It is important to be willing to take the time to sit and talk with the Tribal Healers of the Tribe presented. Successful collaboration requires flexibility and understanding as well.
Preparation and Planning
It is important to research the particular Tribes and Tribal Healing Practices involved in the proposed collaboration including asking about customs in a respectful way, knowing Tribal leader’s names, and governing structures. And their approaches and beliefs toward tribal healing practices.
Respect
A collaboration with sincere sentiments, stating implicitly and explicitly that the goal is “to listen, understand, and learn to help.” Which can build a respectful environment to connect with tribal healers.
Increase Cross‐Cultural Understanding
Assist local organizations, groups, tribes, and communities that promote programs that enhance cross-cultural understanding. To develop relations with tribals and tribal healers.
Recommendations & Challenges
According to the Dr. Abhay Bang Committee report, sickle cell disease, malaria, TB, maternal and child health, and integration of tribal healers with main systems of tradition are the primary concerns. While the Uttarakhand TRI (Tribal Research Institute) has been chosen as the nodal TRI for this purpose, the Quality Council of India (QCI) has a system to register tribal healers and incorporate them. We need to have a compendium and repository for all that has been done to date, but the problem is to get traditional tribal healers into the mainstream as these are also not a part of AYUSH. The work of one TRI should stand as an example for other TRIs as well.
Conclusion
After mainstreaming or systemizing tribal healers and building relations with tribal healers, we can reduce the lack of successors, erosion of knowledge, lack of recognition, lack of adequate intellectual property protection, and incompatibility of local ownership values with contemporary laws are some of the key concerns. If the tribals encourage the study of their knowledge, it would go a long way in preserving their rich culture.
References:
What Can India Do To Bring Tribal Communities Into The Mainstream?(Abhishek Yadav, YKA, Feb 20, 2019)
Why it is important to mainstream indigenous knowledge? (Educations Times, Friday, January 21, 2022)
Traditional healing practices and folk medicines used by the Mishing community of North East India. (PMCID: PMC3487237, 2012 Jul-Sep)
Health Care and Traditional Healing Practices among the Dhurwas of Bastar. (January 2016 DOI: 10.21088/ijra.2454.9118.2216.1)
Recommendations for Developing and Maintaining Tribal Relationships. (Tribal Stars, San Diego State University School of Social Work)
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