A meeting of indigenous healthcare practitioners along with community leaders of grassroot NGOs of India met yesterday in New Delhi, to discuss and share their views on “Indigenous Knowledge and Self-Determined Development”.
This gathering of indigenous people from all over India was attended also by representatives from Meghalaya including Dr. Alka Kharsati, a Khasi indigenous healer, E Syiemsad from the Meghalaya Traditional Medicine Association, Tambor Lyngdoh from Mawphlang who is also a known environmentalist. They shared their experience and challenges on indigenous healthcare practices, climate change and conflict of legislation with the indigenous peoples in India.
John F. Kharshiing, Chairman, Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP) who also spoke at the meeting explained about the experience and role of SPIKAP since its formation 30 years ago (1993) where it has been able to promote a number of healthcare practitioners and associations of Meghalaya leading to the invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan to 20 indigenous healers of Meghalaya to personally meet with President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on June 20, 2003.
Kharshiing said that while there is a Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 to protect wildlife and endangered animals, there should also be a special legislation to recognise Khasi and Garo languages including all the 220 odd languages of North East. He also expressed surprise that the Constitution has only 22 constitutionally recognised languages.
He further stated that on one hand the Constitution of India has 29 states and six union territories, based on ethnicity and language, the Khasi community is yet to be recognized.
“Is there any other reason why the demand for recognition of Khasi language is delayed? Why are the official resolutions from the Meghalaya State Assembly being slighted and ignored? Is Meghalaya within India or outside India that this genuine demand for recognition of Khasi language is ignored?” he asked.
On other issues of the indigenous peoples of India, Kharshiing stated that it was an urgent need for all the indigenous people to unite and demand implementation of the recommended amendments of 1997-1998 by the combined National Commission for Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes to amend Article 338A as it is presently a toothless provision for the indigenous peoples and tribes. According to him, amending Article 338A was necessary so as to make it effective and ensure that the silent voices of the minority can be heard in parliament or the Assembly.
Kharshiing urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health to have synergy in the promotion of indigenous knowledge. He also thanked the organisers – Parimal Foundation, Anamaya, USAID, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the participation and support for the meeting.
