U.S. based company taking advantage of Indian tribal knowledge

In India it's a long tradition of ayurvedik medicines. We knew the medical uses of many plants and never patented it. But now alarmingly more and more foreign based companies are making commercial use of it without giving due share to the natives. They are taking advantage in the flaw of patent laws and its nonconformity in various countries. What's worse is they can easily make some life saving drugs vanish from market with such strategy.

For one such story, read this article :

Since ancient times, Kani tribals knew that arogyapacha (Trichopus zeylanicus) was a stress-buster. After nearly a decade of research, the Thiruvananthapuram-based Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) made a herbal product, Jeevani, from the herb and transferred the technology to Coimbatore-based Arya Vaidya Pharmacy to produce and market the drug.

The profit from the licence fee was routed to Kerala Kani Samudaya Kshema Trust, set up for the welfare of the Kani tribe. The move was hailed worldwide as a sterling example of successful commercialisation of traditional knowledge and the benefits were reaped by the tribal community for sharing their knowledge with the world.

That was the story until Great Earth, a US nutrition store, discovered the benefits of Jeevani. The American company is selling the drug under its own brand name - Jeevani Jolt 1000 - without having the permission to do so.

National Science popularization award given to Swadeshi Science Movement Kerala

Swadeshi Science Movement (SSM), Kerala Chapter of Vijnana Bharati is honoured with the prestigious "Jawaharlal Nehru Prize" for the year 2005-2006, instituted by Indian Science Congress for popularisation of science. This is for the first time a Kerala based NGO being honoured by the Indian Science Congress. The award includes a cash amount of Rs.one lakh and a plaque.Swadeshi Science Movement is a voluntary organisation started on November 7(Birthday of Dr. C.V.Raman), 1991,by a group of scientists and technocrats .SSM conducts innumerable programs to propagate and popularise science among students as well as common public.SSM's activities give thrust to popularise Indian contributions to science and also to globalise swadeshi sciences like ayurveda, yoga, vedic mathematics, environmental sciences etc.

Two world congresses on ayurveda and ecology conducted by this organisation have attracted scientists and technocrats from more than 40 countries and have made a global impact. Science talent search examination among students to generate affinity among younger generation towards pure science is the biggest student activity in Kerala. SSM also publishing the National Science Magazine “Science India” for students.Swadeshi Science Movement’s womens wing SHAKTI is working for the empowerment of rural women in Social, economic, Intellectual and Cultural fields.

The Self Reliance Day celebration on 15th October which happens to be the birthday of H.E. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, involving thousands of students is one of the most inspiring program, having the total participation of teachers and parents.The selection board of Indian Science Congress was pleased about the efforts taken by Swadeshi Science Movement to blend the modern sciences with the age old socio-cultural and scientific value based system. The award wasreceived by PN Subramanian, State President of SSM from the Prime Minister in the inaugural session of 93rd Indian Science Congress held at Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad.

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