SHILLONG:
The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), on April 18, organised a “Traditional Healers Meet” at its campus in Upper Shillong.
This programme was organised under Himalayan Bioresource Mission of Department of Biotechnology, government of India, in coordination with Bio Resource Development Centre (BRDC), Shillong, and Society for Ethnopharmacology (SFE), India.
During the programme, Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director, IBSD highlighted the research activities initiated for documentation & validation of traditional healthcare knowledge of Northeastern Region.
He emphasised to work on the translational aspects of selected formulations from traditional healers for the development of bioresources and to boost the economy of the region.
During the programme, Dr. Sansuk Lyngdoh Nonglait, Research Scientist, BRDC, Shillong highlighted various activities for documentation of traditional healthcare practices of traditional healers under this programme.
Scientists from IBSD, Dr. J. K. Shukla, Dr Pardeep K Bhardwaj, Dr. Sunil Thorat, Dr. Evanylla Kharlyngdoh and other researchers shared their ideas.
The programme was attended by representatives from Society for Ethnopharmacology, Kolkata who highlighted various outreach activities of the society for the promotion of traditional healers of NER; many researchers from Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, IBSD, Imphal, BRDC, Shillong.
Traditional Healers were made acquainted with the research facilities of the institute and a way forward for the documentation, evaluation and validation of indigenous healthcare knowledge.
During the programme, many traditional healers from East Khasi Hill, West Khasi Hill, Garo and Jantia Hill shared their ideas, experiences and showcased their products/ formulations.