The Hindu : Keep off R&D institutions, politicians told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 14, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Keep off R&D institutions, politicians told

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM SEPT. 13. Scientific institutions in Kerala have become a cesspool of dirty politics and trade unionism where outsiders dictate terms to scientists. Unless strong measures are taken to check disruptive politics, the R&D sector will face serious limits to growth, says P. Pushpangathan, Director, National Botanic Research Institute, Lucknow.

Dr. Pushpangathan who won the UN Equator Initiative award at the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg was addressing a `meet-the-Press' programme organised by the Thiruvana nthapuram Press Club.

He bagged the award for piloting a global model of benefit sharing between the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute here and the Kani tribal community in the Agastyar hills.

Recalling his tenure as director at TBGRI, he said the overdose of politics was a stumbling block to the development of the State. "R&D institutions must be insulated from politics if they are to be accountable to the people. The situation calls for a ban on union activity in laboratories. Research institutions are not rehabilitation centres for partymen. You can't have outsiders dictating terms to scientists'', he said.

Dr. Pushpangadan said documentation of knowledge systems and oral traditions were key elements in sustainable utilisation of biodiversity.

"Research institutions will have to go all out to attract international funding for projects. But unlike in China, where the ministries work as one to achieve this objective, India is seriously hampered by the lack of a responsive bureaucracy''.

The benefit-sharing model which won the award at the Earth Summit was a novel project involving the TBGRI and the Kani tribals. The two- member team which represented the project at the Earth Summit comprised Dr. Pushpangadan and a tribal representative, Kuttimathan Kani. The trail- blazing venture was one of the 27 shortlisted from 10,000 nominations all over the world.

Under the project which was launched by TBGRI in 1995, the tribal communities in the Agastyar hills were compensated for imparting information about the arogyapacha (tricopus zeylanicus), a rare plant which led to the development of a herbal drug with huge commercial potential.

The initiative was recognised by the UN as a global model in benefit- sharing and recognition of the intellectual property rights of tribals.

In 1995, TBGRI entered into a technology transfer pact with a pharma company for commercial production of the drug.

The Institute has ploughed back 50 per cent of the licence fee and royalty to the tribal community whose knowledge first helped them identify the plant. The amount is being used for development programmes in the tribal colonies.

The Equator Initiative Award was instituted by the UN to foster community partnerships for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt.

The award, termed the UN Oscar, carries a cash prize of $ 30,000, which is to be utilised for developing similar projects.

Kuttimathan Kani also received a citation on behalf of the Kerala Kani Samudaya Kshema Trust.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Sandalwood looted from strong room

Need for personal touch in banking stressed

Water harvesting to be popularised

Kumarakom Boat Club wins race

Tariff arrears: HC seeks Govt. affidavit

Keep off R&D institutions, politicians told