SCM, Tata Steel holds Workshop on Tribal Medicinal Practices

More than 25 tribal medicinal practitioners exchanged ideas with experts and displayed plants and herbs with healing properties at a workshop organised by Sukinda Chromite Mine (SCM) of Tata Steel in Jajpur district.
Over 15 tribal and traditional medicinal practitioners from around Sukinda including a woman and 10 from Keonjhar district from tribes like Sabara, Munda, Majhi participated in the workshop held at Sukinda on the occasion of International Day of World's Indigenous People yesterday.
They displayed plants, herbs, roots, tubers, stems from which they have been preparing medicines and healing people for generations.
Healing properties of these plants for common ailments ranging from cold and cough to diseases like diabetes, migraine and rheumatism were discussed at the workshop on Tribal Medicinal Practices - Green Therapy, a company release said.

The traditional healers explained the process of preparing medicines and treatment to the gathering and there was exchange of ideas with experts including Dr Paramanada Patel from Academy of Language and Tribal Culture, Bhubaneswar and Dr Sanjib Das, Assistant Professor, Gopabandhu Ayurvedic College, Puri.
Dr Das identified the plants and clarified the scientific process behind the treatment while expressing his surprise at the knowledge of the healers about plants and their medicinal value.
Appreciating the initiative of Tata Steel, Dr Das said programmes like these will go a long way in enriching the traditional methods of treatment which need to be scientifically certified and at the same time identifying and discouraging unscientific methods of healing.

Rajesh Patel, Chief, Sukinda Chromite Mine, Tata Steel said the initiative aims to provide a platform for exchange of knowledge on good medicinal practices of local tribals with experts and create awareness on the subject.