Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram today emphasised the role of Tribal Healers in Tribal Health Transformation. He highlighted the effectiveness of indigenous healing practices and asked states to explore market linkages and partnerships with Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and pharmaceutical companies to generate livelihood opportunities around traditional medicine. ‘

Addressing the National Capacity Building Programme for Tribal Healers held at Kanha Shantivanam near Hyderabad, Mr Oram recalled the Ministry’s sustained focus on addressing tribal health disparities through initiatives like the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, PM-JANMAN, and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. On the occasion, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of India’s first National Tribal Health Observatory – the Bharat Tribal Health Observatory under Project DRISTI.