TRAD. MEDICINE AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
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The Katkari are amongst the poorest people in India. A disenfranchised Adavasi or tribal group, legislated more than a hundred years ago by the British as a „criminal tribe“, they are largely landless and are enslaved in brickworks as bonded labour. Despite this, their spirit is strong. This 21 minute documentary examines their plight, looks at one group trying to help them (Academy of Development Science) and appeals to the international community to help change their lot. It features unique performances by several Katkari musician.
An appeal to save the Katkaris : A Primitive Forest Tribe from Maharashtra, India – The Katkari tribal group is teetering on the brink of extinction. The Katkari community, a primitive forest tribe based mostly in Raigad and Thane Districts of Maharashtra, lives in abject poverty. Even in 2003 they continue to work as bonded labour for their „sheth“ (master). Their exploitation by non-tribals is total and absolute. They have been converted into a cheap and bonded labour force by their fellow human beings.
The police department harasses them at will and treats them like a „criminal tribe“. While the Indian Government would deny the presence of slavery, the Katkaris are slaves and much more. All development programmes, Government or Non-Government, bypass the Katkaris. >>> VIDEO: AN APPEAL FOR KATKARI < (Criminal Tribes Act of 1871…)
The life expectancy of Katkaris has reduced in recent years and the Katkaris, as a tribe, may be on their way out, unless urgent efforts are made to reverse the trend. While animals, plants, insects and even microbes attract a lot of attention (and resources) for conservation and rehabilitation, nobody seems to be bothered about the unique and unusual Katkaris.
An attempt is made here (it is unfortunate that this had to take on a „project“ form) to issue an appeal to the international community to save the Katkari tribe from extinction.
Academy of Development Science (ADS), in collaboration with NGOs and individuals in Raigad and Thane District, is striving to address basic survival issues facing the community. The process will hopefully emancipate Katkaris from slavery and bring about improvements in their socio-economic status.
Arunachala is a sacred mountain near Tiruvanamalai in southern India. Seen as a manifestation of the god Shiva, it is a site of great annual pilgrimage. Over the last 20 years, it has also been the site of much tree-planting. This 12 minute documentary tells the story of the formation of the Annamalai Reforestation Society (ARS) and examines the juncture between spirituality and practical environmentalism.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE – Local health traditions (also termed traditional medicine or folk medicine) were once common in the tribal region.
Every village had atleast one sueen (traditional birth attendant) and more than one vaidu (folk practitioner).
There was also a large body of knowledge of simple home remedies. These Local Health Traditions (LHTs) were community-supported, autonomous, oral in nature, self-reliant and based on the use of local resources, mainly plants. For instance, there are reports of over 300 medicinal plant species being used by tribals in Raigad District for their primary health care needs.
Promotion of Allopathic medicine and utter neglect of traditional medicine by the Government and mainstream medical institutions has literally wiped out local health traditions prevalent in tribal regions. Academy’s efforts are aimed at revitalising local health traditions without disturbing their autonomy. Regular training programmes are conducted for vaidus, housewives and tribal youth interested in learning about herbal medicine. Village level aushadhikaran (medicine preparation) camps are organised to train women in simple processing techniques for the treatment of common ailments. ADS also organises training programmes on herbal medicine for NGOs, Community Groups, Schools, etc.
A dispensary and pharmacy have been set up on ADS campus for treatment of patients from nearby villages. The dispensary is managed by tribal vaidus. The pharmacy is engaged in processing of herbal medicines.
A medicinal plants garden and nursery has been established on 20 acres of land in view of the unavailability of medicinal plants to people for health care needs. ADS has hence undertaken work on conservation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants. More than 450 medicinal plant species are growing in the garden. An ethno-medicinal herbarium, raw drug and seed museum have been established. Saplings of over 100 different medicinal plant species are raised and distributed every year.
A number of visitors, mainly school/college students, medical students, Ayurvedic doctors, botanists, etc. visit the herbal garden throughout the year to learn about medicinal plants.
ADS is engaged in building capacities of NGOs from other regions through training programmes on traditional medicine. A number of such NGOs are now involved in meaningful work on traditional medicine and primary health care. The concept is thus gradually spreading to other areas.
Over the past year ADS has been concentrating on the health problems of women and children using traditional medicine. A team of women health workers has been working in 20 villages for the treatment of gynaecological problems. The results are encouraging. This line of work needs to be developed further so that, women and children, who are a marginalised section within the tribal community, have access to better health care and nutrition. This is extremely important in the present context where a large number of malnutrition and starvation related deaths of small children are being reported from different tribal regions of Maharashtra.
ADS work on traditional medicine is acknowledged as a pioneering effort in the field of community health.
ACADEMY OF DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE
KASHELE POST, KARJAT TALUKA, RAIGAD DISTRICT
MAHARASHTRA 410 201
INDIA
email: ads@pn3.vsnl.net.in
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