In order to develop Patanjali Research Institute into a centre of excellence, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the institute and the Tribal Research Institute, Uttarakhand here on Monday.
The MoU was signed in the presence of chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at the CM’s residence. The Tribal Welfare director Suresh Joshi signed the memorandum along with Acharya Balkrishna representing Patanjali institute.
This project will be undertaken with the assistance of the Tribal Affairs ministry of the Government of India. As part of the MoU, the medicinal plants found in the tribal areas of the state and the traditional medicine systems will be researched and documented. This work is being started now as a pilot project. The Government of India has approved a sum of Rs 3.12 crore for this purpose. Later on, the project will be extended and undertaken in other states too for which the Tribal Research Institute, Uttarakhand will be the nodal agency.
CM Rawat stressed on the need for compiling and documenting traditional knowledge along with evidence. Traditional knowledge and science will have to be brought together while focus will also have to laid on utilisation and conservation of herbs, said Rawat.
It was stated on the occasion that under the project, traditionally occupied persons in tribal areas will be trained. Knowledge will be shared while medicinal plants will be identified and the components found in them will be ascertained. Monograph of the plants will also be created.