Traditional Knowledge in Engineering PDF

Hello Learners, In this session we will discuss on the Traditional knowledge in engineering It is clear that there is always a deep influence of Indian culture and tradition on Indian civil and architect. By which Indian civil has sparkled with rich customs and traditions....

Hello Learners, In this session we will discuss on the Traditional knowledge in engineering It is clear that there is always a deep influence of Indian culture and tradition on Indian civil and architect. By which Indian civil has sparkled with rich customs and traditions. Modern civil can be more efficiently applied by understanding our Indian traditions because they are always related to science and for welfare of human beings. By studying ancient techniques, we can easily understand different facts of science At present science has uncovered secrets. Even everything is before us but it seems that there is body but not the spirit. There is an adage “Old is Gold”. Despite of reaching to the highest point in the field of architecture still we found ourselves speechless watching the ancient structures. As the law is incomplete without evidence in the same our memory is incomplete without history. History means our past. In Indians our elders always told us not to sleep with our head in south direction. Whereas dead body is kept in that way. Now the science behind this is that the earth acts as a magnet. In villages elders advised children not to go near Ficus and banyan tree sometimes elder scars kids saying ghost are there, but science says these trees produces CO2 at night which is not good for health. It is told to Indians that keep your face in north direction. Now scientific reason behind this is that magnetic waves flow from north to south direction. This magnetic energy activates the brain cells and increase the memory power. It is well acknowledged that we were familiar to science just time is changes and the same thing is in front of us in new form. Our ancient saint and scholars were able to measure the distance between the sun and earth which is written in “hanuman chalisa” as jug sahastr jojan par Bhanu which is proven right by “Nasa” and the whole world then accepted. The concept of zero, square roots, cube roots, values of π were known to Indians. A book “vimanashastram” shows the procedures to make an aeroplane. The iron pillar of Delhi is famous Indian place it has 99% resistance to corrosion and almost 1600-1700 years old. A study concluded that a corrosion-resistance agent iron hydrogen phosphate was applied on it which shows advanced chemical knowledge of our ancestors. Harrappa and Mohanjo-Daro are best examples of this architecture and mature urban civilization. In Harappan civilization the underground drainage system was from small to big sewer then to channel and then channel to river.  It has also a remarkable town planning system. Better system then this has never seen till today. Jagganath Temple: The shadow of the main dome is not visible whatever be the time it shows architecture feat. Also, the Sudarshan chakra on the top seems always facing you. Irrespective of whatever you stand. When you enter the temple by sighdwara after first step you cannot hear any sound of ocean but when you exit it can be clearly heard. The Konark sun temple is one of the UNESCO heritage sites. The main attraction of the temple is its twelve pairs of wheels located at the base of the temple. These wheels are not ordinary wheels but tell time as well the spokes of the wheels create a sundial. One can calculate the precise time of the day by just looking at the shadow cast by these spokes. Kailash temple of Ellora caves is carved from a massive rock structure. The whole rock is cut by manpower. Now these facts prove that our ancestors had knowledge of civil and science in fact their technology was highly advanced than of the modern. Ancient Building Materials Mud, bricks, lime, stones, wood, metals and precious stones should be used in construction of houses. Soil: It is an aggregate of inorganic and organic grains which can be separated by simple mechanical action such as agitation in water or by sieving. Clays: Clays are finest particles of soil with a size smaller than 75 microns. Mud: It is a workable mixture of clay soil and water. Gadi soils-white soil The main constituents are local soil, fine sand, cow dung, quick lime, extracts of Belphal, fibres of jute and water for mixing. The mixture is allowed to mature for a minimum period of 30 days and kneaded every day. Mud flooring (Padmanabhapurum palace 1601 A.D in Kerala) The floors were made of a material that is unique blend of burnt coconut shells, quick lime, palm toddy, the whites of eggs and extracts of certain barks of trees and nuts. Lakshmana Temple, Sirpur Chhattisgarh Lakshmana Temple build by Queen Vasata, in 7th century AD is world heritage structure. Brick temple stands on high massive platform.  This temple is one among the best examples of brick temples of ancient India. Cave paintings Ajanta caves: Clay, cow dung, stone powder, rise husk and lime. Sirgirea caves: Tempered clay, kaolin, rice husk, Coconut shell fibres and lime. Bagh caves: red clay, green gram, lime and jute. Uses of stones: Making sculptures. Building blocks for construction. Preservation of wood: The wood should be painted to avoid the losses of oily substance. An oil coat should be applied every year after rainy season. Frames and door shutters: Wood for frames and door shutters should be of same type so that the action of weather may be same on both. Unequal action produces unequal strains and it is detrimental to architecture. Conclusion: The study of ancient civil, architecture, structure and culture and its combination with modern civil will lead to sparkle the modernity. Today we need to make a home not just a house. By understanding ancient and old techniques Vaastu etc. We can easily understand the facts of science. If we want to understand science then we need to understand Indian tradition because our tradition our customs and practice is our science. So our tradition and science both mean same to protect human beings and to ameliorate but their way is different our ancestor selected the way so we Indians and all the peoples of our community of different classes even if they are illiterate or literate, rich or poor, can easily understand and that was our culture but now we think it is limitation or obstacle for us. Hello Learners, IN this session, we are going to discuss on the Traditional Knowledge in Agricultural Sector. Indigenous Knowledge Local or indigenous knowledge refers to the cumulative and complex bodies of knowledge, know how, practices and representations that are maintained and developed by local communities who have long histories of interaction with the natural environment-UNESCO, 2012. Importance of ITK  In the emerging global knowledge economy, a country’s ability to build and mobilize knowledge capital, is equally essential for sustainable development as the availability of physical and financial capital (World bank, 1991).  The bases component of any country’s knowledge system is its indigenous knowledge.  It encompasses the skills, experiences and insights of people, applied to maintain or improve their livelihood.  Significant contributions to global knowledge have originated from indigenous people for instance in medicine and veterinary medicine with their intimate understanding of their environments.  Indigenous knowledge is also the social capital of the poor, their main asset to invest in the struggle for survival.  Accordingly, indigenous knowledge is of great relevance for the development process in the following sectors: Agriculture, Animal husbandry and ethnic veterinary medicine, Use and management of natural resources, Primary Health Care (PHC), preventive medicine and psychosocial care. Saving and lending, Community development and Poverty alleviation. Indigenous Knowledge System- Sustainability  Indigenous knowledge plays an important role in sustainability through farming system approach (FSA).  In FSA, researchers and farmers meet together on a common platform to diagnose the problems that farmers are facing and to develop suitable technologies to solve the priority problems of the farmers using both indigenous and scientific knowledge.  The knowledge that researchers are bringing is referred to as scientific knowledge, while the technical knowledge of farmers is collected under the term indigenous technical knowledge (ITK).  ITK includes, information, practices and technologies, beliefs, tools, experimentation, human resource and materials. Integration of ITK’s with Scientific Knowledge Farmers comparative vis-à-vis scientists it often includes:  The experience and discipline from actual farming system and its physical, social and economic development.  Continuous observation of changing processes of natural resources.  Freedom to make progressive change, managing and adapting sequences, unrestricted by rapid experimental design.  Development and adaptation of technology for diverse local condition.   The understanding, development and management of technology with many elements and linkages.  A long-time horizon (unless insecure and desperate). Scientists’ comparative competence vis-à-vis farmers usually include: 1. Processes where reductionism and precise measurement work well. 2. Breeding and biotechnology. 3. Minute and microscopic phenomena. 4. Developing package technology for uniform and widespread conditions. 5. Access to knowledge and genetic material from other environment. ITKs may provide solutions for low external input but intensive agricultural production. A systematic documentation of available ITK facilitate a process in which researchers and farmers learn from each other. In this way, researchers may be facilitated to build on to existing ITK (Chambers, 1991:82). Integration of ITK, with scientific knowledge system is vital for sustainable agriculture. The efficacy and efficiency of locally available treatments can also be improved significantly through modern science. Scientific procedures can identify the active ingredients and could come up with appropriate recommendations in terms of effective application rates. Role of indigenous knowledge in development  The very basic fact that sustainable development relies upon participatory approach makes IK an important ingredient for development. Indigenous knowledge is relevant on three levels for the developmental process:  Local community in which the bearers of such knowledge live and produce.  Development agent (CBOs, NGOs, government, donor, local leaders and private sector initiatives) need to recognize it, value it appreciates it in their interaction with the local communities. Before incorporating it in their approaches, they need to understand it and critically validate it against the usefulness for their intended objectives.  Indigenous knowledge form part of the global knowledge. Indigenous knowledge can be preserved, transferred or adopted and adapted elsewhere. Documentation is the conversion of traditional knowledge information provided by communities into written documents, drawings or audio recordings. The main aim of documentation is to ensure information is not lost and to protect communities by presenting information is prior art. Reasons for documentation of ITK in agriculture sector  To understand scientific rationale  To accelerate technological change.  To enable better understanding technology development and development of newer concept.  To increase awareness among the younger generation and development appreciation of traditional system.  To revive and restore pride among the farmers and other practitioners themselves. Module 6 Traditional Knowledge in different sectors Dependence of Traditional Societies on food and healthcare needs According to Indian Philosophy, Anna or food is an aspect of Brahman. It is a gift from Paramatma. So, it should be treated with great respect. The physical body is called AnnamayaKosha, i.e., food body, because body nourished and grows by absorbing the energies from food. Food should be eaten for the survival and strength of the body, but not for pleasure. Fasting is another aspect of traditional food system. It is meant to purify the mind and the body. These traditional food concepts have been changed drastically in our society because of our contemporary lifestyle. Traditional food system plays a significant role in maintaining the well-being and health of Indigenous People. Awareness created on traditional food system can contribute to create a healthy society to build strong nation. The traditional knowledge of food is considered to be the best for particular geographical condition. Changing food pattern can damage the good health of the society. So, it is vital to know the importance of good food habits of our own tradition and balanced diet. In this session, importance of traditional foods like staple, special, seasonal, region specific and their methods will be discussed. According to our traditional knowledge, region and season specific foods which have been prepared by means of local fiber roots, roots, fruits, leafy vegetables, vegetables and grass are necessary for us. Radiationally, Indian foods are classified into three main categories. Cooked vegetables, milk, fresh fruits, and honey are meant for the truly wise and are considered as Satvika foods. Foods that bring out the lowest, crass qualities of human behavior such as meat, liquor, garlic, and spicy and sour foods are classified as Tamasika foods. Foods that give enough energy to carry out daily work are categorized as Rajsika foods. Aryans classified food materials on the basis of their nature and use such as Sukhadhanya (cereals), Samidhanya (pulses), Phala (fruits), Shakna (vegatables), Payovarga (milk products), Madhyavarga (alcoholic beverages) and Mamasavarga (animal products). Food is specific to season. India has six different seasons, namely vasanta ritu (spring), grishma ritu (summer), varsha ritu (monsoon), sharad ritu (autumn), hemanta ritu (fall winter), and shishira ritu (winter). Studying and knowing about seasons is important to make an efficient diet plan for an individual and hence in this review, effort is made to provide the details of individual foods and their seasonal usage. 1.2. Concepts of Ayurveda in health foods Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicines native to India. In Ayurveda, regulation of diet is crucial, since it examines the whole human body as the product of food. According to ayurvedic concepts, food is responsible for different aspects of an individual including physical, temperamental, and mental states. To stay healthy,  maintaining a stable healthy diet routinely is essential. The body absorbs the nutrients as the result of digestion. But Ayurveda states that the food first converts into rasa (plasma), and then followed by successive conversion into blood, muscle, fat, bone marrow, reproductive elements, and body fluids. Imbalance of mind, body, and spirit are referred to as diseases. Ayurveda has different treatments for different diseases, which are well established and consistent over the period. Grain-based traditional health foods Rains are the primary staple food of India. Grains are a nutritionally rich product and deliver recommended nutrients to the body. Consumption of grains in different civilizations of India can be observed from the literature. In Indian history we can discover distinctive grains used by our ancestors. Traditional processing techniques such as fermentation, soaking, and cooking help to remove these antinutritional factors. In view of health, resistant starch received attention because of its potential health benefits and functional properties. Many traditional Indian grain products may contain higher amounts of resistant starches because of higher proportions of whole grain ingredients and less intensive processing. Examples are Idly, Dosa, Ambali, Ragi hurihittu, Enduri pitha, Dhokla, selroti etc. Fruit and vegetable-based traditional health food Fruits are good sources of flavonoids, minerals, vitamins, carotenoids, electrolytes and other bioactive compounds that have impact on human health. Some of the traditional health foods prepared in India using fruits and vegetables example Banana (Bale dandu palya) Bale dandu palya is a food made from the stem of banana plants, Banana stem juice used for treating hypoglycemia. Jackfruit It is an ancient fruit consumed in Southeast Asia. The edible part of jackfruit includes fruits and seeds. The bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and other phytonutrients improve the medicinal value of jackfruits and its seeds. Jackfruit seed chutney Monkey jack Mango- Mango pachadi, Mango peel chutney Mango is a rich source of antioxidants, Jamun fruit It is a potential nutraceutical fruit and contains many phytochemicals. Due to the presence of these phytochemicals, it is used to treat diabetes in India. Different parts  of the tree including leaf, bark, seed, and pulp, are used in the treatment of diabetes, allergies, viral infection, inflammation, and gastric ulcer. Meanwhile all the parts of Jamun tree have medicinal value. Jamun seed powder is produced commercially by herbal manufacturers in India and is very useful for patients suffering from diabetes. Jamun seeds are used in Ayurveda to treat digestive ailments. Jamun fruit juice is prepared in homes and it is also available commercially. Papaya The parts of the tree are used in treating one or more diseases. Latex papaya tree is used to relieve dyspepsia, ripe fruits are used in treating chronic diarrhea, unripen fruits are diuretic in nature. Papaya seed juices are used in treatment of bleeding piles and enlarged liver, and young leaf paste is used to treat jaundice. Bitter gourd Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a vegetable having medicinal properties. Bitter gourd possesses antidiabetic activity due to the presence of chrantin, vicine and polypeptide-p. The juice of bitter gourd pulp enhances glucose tolerance in diabetic patients. Bharwan karela is a health product prepared from bitter gourd. Spinach roti Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. Preparation of roti using spinach is very common in south India. Method of preparation includes boiling the spinach in water followed by kneading dough with boiled spinach. Small balls of dough are made into tortillas and roasted. Spinach is a good source of protein and iron. It is recommended for girls during menstruation and for lactating women. Milk-based health food Cattle were an integral part of the Vedic culture. Literature before 800 BCE refers to cow, buffalo, and goat milk, which were consumed either fresh or boiled. The major processing products of milk include ghee, curd, paneer, cheese and buttermilk. Buttermilk was in wide use; it was turned into a seasoned dish known as saga. Curds were eaten with rice and barley. After 800 BCE, the use of colostrum became prevalent and was mixed with boiled milk, crystal sugar, and fragrant herbs. According to the Ayurvedic system, milk has unique nutrition that cannot be provided by any other foods. Ayurvedic health foods Based on the dominant constituent of the body, doshas are classified into kapha, pitta, and vatta. Ayurveda groups five basic elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth). Essential humors known as tridosha, namely vata, pitta, and kapha are composed of these five basic elements. From the ether and air components, the bodily air principle known as vata is manifested, which regulates breathing, mobility, and central and sympathetic nervous systems. The fire and water components in the body constitute the fire principle known as pitta, which regulates the digestion and assimilation  process in the body. The earth and water components known as kapha functions in heat regulation, lubrication, and formation of mucus and synovia. These three doshas govern all physiopathological, psychological, and biological functions of the body, mind, and consciousness. Imbalance in these tridoshas leads to disease or disturbance in body function. For example, air element encourages fire element in the body. Therefore, to control fire element, water element is necessary. For restoration of the balance, dietary recommendations are given according to the individual's body constitution (vata, pitta, or kapha). Conclusion There is so much diversity in traditional health foods of India because the regional health foods have evolved according to the climate, culture, and cropping practices of a particular region. Moreover, certain foods have become more popular in certain region according to the health condition of a population Hello learners. Welcome to the video on the Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment, Management of Biodiversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge. In this chapter, we'll introduce the Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment, Management of Biodiversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge. Introduction to the Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment Environmental conservation is a practice that opens the door for governmental, organisational, and individual protection of the environment and natural resources. Numerous fundamental environmental problems are severely affecting human existence. All of these problems, including overpopulation, hydrological problems, ozone depletion, global warming, deforestation, desertification, and pollution, represent a serious threat to humankind's continued survival. It is pointless to anticipate positive progress until environmental protection turns into a powerful mass movement, particularly in the era of digital media, which has the power to spark a revolution and prevent the destruction of our world. Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment Working for environmental protection has become increasingly vital in modern times. The necessity to protect the environment from further damage is illustrated by the following considerations: To eliminate pollution of the air, water, and land. To make it easier to protect natural resources for future generations. To make sure that biodiversity is protected. To put sustainable development into action. To establish ecological harmony. To protect the environment from the harmful effects of global warming. India is the second largest country in Asia and the seventh largest country overall, with a total size of 329 million hectares. India's rich and diversified flora was supported by the wide variety of habitats that result from different climates and altitudes. Fortunately, India is blessed with a variety of agro-climatic conditions that foster the development of a vast range of plant and animal species. However, the country is facing a very serious issue with the loss of biodiversity. More species of living things are going extinct than ever before, and biodiversity is under greater threat than ever. According to global consensus, deforestation is the primary factor contributing to the current catastrophe. Other major factors include global climatic change, shifting agriculture, soil erosion, uncontrolled urbanisation, etc. A determined effort must be made right now to protect biodiversity for future generations due to the current rate of extinction. It is common knowledge that productive and valued biological resources are essential for long-term economic growth. The rural populace has long held the belief that biodiversity is crucial to their survival and means of subsistence. Industries including construction, pharma, cosmetics, pulp and paper, agriculture and agro-industries, horticulture, and waste treatment depend on biological resources, therefore protecting and conserving biodiversity is in our own interest. In poor nations, between 70 and 80 per cent of the populace relies only on plants for medical care. Importance of Traditional Knowledge The preservation of biodiversity and its traditional uses depends heavily on traditional knowledge: The authorized healthcare system in India includes Indian Systems of Medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani), which rely on a variety of biological resources and conventional knowledge. Over many years, farmers and livestock keepers have cultivated and enhanced a wide range of domesticated plant and animal species. This has been crucial for ensuring food security as well as for offering clothing, healthcare, and housing. Local communities have autonomously protected wild spaces throughout India, including natural ecosystems that are occasionally regarded as sacred, such as 'sacred groves,' some of which are tens of thousands of years old and devoted to a regional deity. Protection of Traditional Knowledge The protection of traditional knowledge innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities has received increasing international attention since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) in 1992. It is now clearly established that Traditional Knowledge is valuable to contemporary business and agriculture in addition to those who depend on it for their daily needs and plays a significant part in the global economy The majority of traditional civilizations rely on this knowledge to meet their needs for food and medical care. As a large portion of the world's crop diversity has been kept and preserved by indigenous/local peoples, which has aided in the protection and conservation of biodiversity, the protection of Traditional Knowledge is crucial for the conservation and sustainable development of the ecosystem. Their expertise is essential for preserving and conserving Genetic Resources (GR) and other bioresources.. With this, we come to the end of our session. In today’s session, we discussed Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment and Management of Biodiversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge.I hope you have got a fair understanding of the topic. Thank you and Happy Learning!  Management of Biodiversity Importance of Traditional Knowledge The preservation of biodiversity and its traditional uses depends heavily on traditional knowledge: The authorized healthcare system in India includes Indian Systems of Medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani), which rely on a variety of biological resources and conventional knowledge. Over many years, farmers and livestock keepers have cultivated and enhanced a wide range of domesticated plant and animal species. This has been crucial for ensuring food security as well as for offering clothing, healthcare, and housing. Local communities have autonomously protected wild spaces throughout India, including natural ecosystems that are occasionally regarded as sacred, such as 'sacred groves,' some of which are tens of thousands of years old and devoted to a regional deity. Protection of Traditional Knowledge The protection of traditional knowledge innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities has received increasing international attention since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) in 1992. It is now clearly established that Traditional Knowledge is valuable to contemporary business and agriculture in addition to those who depend on it for their daily needs and plays a significant part in the global economy The majority of traditional civilizations rely on this knowledge to meet their needs for food and medical care. As a large portion of the world's crop diversity has been kept and preserved by indigenous/local peoples, which has aided in the protection and conservation of biodiversity, the protection of Traditional Knowledge is crucial for the conservation and sustainable development of the ecosystem. Their expertise is essential for preserving and conserving Genetic Resources (GR) and other bioresources.. With this, we come to the end of our session. In today’s session, we discussed Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment and Management of Biodiversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge.I hope you have got a fair understanding of the topic. Thank you and Happy Learning! Scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers act Forest landscapes cover over 23% of the country. Around 200 million i.e., 20% of population live in and near India's forest lands. Source: Citizens' report 2013 on Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act But They had no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods. Result? Both forests and people were suffering. In 2006, "Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed which granted legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities. It entitles. 1. Individuals & Families or communities to a right over their own land, and importantly, 2. Empowers the Gram-sabha, or village assembly, with initiating the process of recognition. What Kind of Rights? 1. Land rights 2. Use rights 3. Right to Protect and Conserve Till Sept 2013, the government had received around 3.3 million claims, but only 40 % had resulted in land titles. Community forest rights (CFR) constituted just two per cent (approx.) of all claims, and only 29 % of such claims had resulted in land titles. Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Issues in the Implementation 1. Less awareness among government bureaucrats about the FRA has resulted in poor implementation of its provisions. 2. Participation at Gram Sabha level is poor. 3. Recognition of rights of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers has been grossly neglected in terms of their eligibility. 4. Poor recognition of CFR rights and community rights 5. There is no clear boundary of community rights area, where multiple villages are dependent on the same forest. 6. Right holders and the Gram Sabhas are not empowered enough to protect wildlife, forest and biodiversity, and to regulate access to their forest areas. 7. Large scale interference by the Forest Department in the rights recognition process. 8. Issues relating to preparation of conservation and management plans. Source: Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT; 'Issues implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR’ 23rd_24th September 2013, of BHUBANESW AR. ODISHA Our Work Land resource mapping Workshop for leaders of Gram sabhas and Forest Wild Life Management Committee on NREGA, FRA, PESA, Biodiversity the different government programmes, gender concepts and institution building. Capacity building of all eligible communities and helpline them in claiming for their rights. Advocacy on FRA through participation in state and National level networks, meetings with government officials, consultation. Promoting meetings of FMC and NTFP cultivator groups. Facilitating public hearing on NREGS, FRA and other issues. Enabling inclusion of women in decision making process for management of forests and other natural resources. 2013 Highlights 1. 18725 tribal people benefitted from our work 2. 1,430 tribal men and women from across three states have received individual land titles under FRA. 3. The gram sabha of Panchgaon village earned Rs. 148000/-by selling Bamboo from the village forest for which the CFR has been granted. 4. 34 communities from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh who have received management rights have formed committees and are enforcing rules agreed in the community meetings to stop illegal felling prevent forest fires, conserve biodiversity etc. PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND FARMERS RIGHTS ACT PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION AND THE PURPOSE 1. Plant variety protection provides legal protection of a plant variety to a breeder in the form of Plant breeder's rights. 2. Plant Breeder's Rights are intellectual property rights that provide exclusive rights to a breeder of the registered variety. THE PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION AND FARMERS RIGHTS ACT 2001 1. a sui generis system, is an attempt by the Indian Government to recognize and protect the rights of both commercial plant breeders and farmers in respect of their contribution made in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for development of new plant varieties and to encourage the development of new plants varieties. 2. Protection of the plant varieties under the Act accelerates agricultural development and stimulates investment for research and development for the development of new plant varieties which in turn facilities the growth of the seed industry and ensures the availability of high-quality seeds and plant in material to the farmers. WHY PROTECTION FOR PLANTS IS REQUIRED IN INDIA? 1. The Agreement on TRIPS requires WTO members to introduce an "Effective system" for the protection of plant varieties. Article 27 (3) of the TRIPS agreement reads 2. Member countries may exclude "plants and animals other than micro- organisms and essentially biological processes for the production of plants and animals other than nonbiological and micróbiological processes. However, Members shall provide for the protection of plant varieties either by Patents or by an effective sui generis system or by any combination thereof. 3. India is among the first countries in the world to have passed legislation granting Farmers Rights in the form of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001 (PPVFR). 4. Nine rights are given to farmers under the Act including: the rights to save, exchange and (to a limited extent) sell seeds and propagating material, to register varieties, to recognition and reward for conservation Of varieties, to benefit sharing, to information about expected performance of a variety compensation for failure of variety to perform, availability of seeds Oi registered variety. free services for registration, conducting tests on varieties, legal claims under the Act, and protection from infringement. PLANT VARIETY  A variety is a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank, defined by the expression of the characteristics resulting from a  given genotype or combination of genotypes. The variety should be distinguished from other plant grouping by expression and should be considered as a unit with regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged. REGISTERABLE PLANT VARIETIES IN INDIA a. New Varieties: A Variety which is not in public domain in India earlier than one year before the date of filing or outside India, in the case of trees or vines earlier than six years or in any other case earlier than four years. b. Extant Variety: A Variety which is notified under Seed Act, 1966 or a variety about which there is common knowledge or a farmer's variety or any other variety which is in public domain is considers as an Extant Variety. c. Farmer's Variety: A Variety which has been traditionally cultivated and evolved by the farmers in their fields or a variety which is a wild relative or land race of a variety about which farmers possess common knowledge. d. Essentially Derived Variety (EDV): i) Predominantly derived from such initial variety, or from a variety that itself is predominantly derived from such initial variety, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of such initial variety. ii) Is clearly distinguishable from such initial variety; and iii) Conforms to such initial variety in the expression of the essential characteristics NON-REGISTERABLE PLANT VARIETIES IN INDIA All plant varieties cannot get legal protection in India. Certain Plant varieties are excluded from the protection under PPVFR Act 2001. Any variety where prevention of commercial exploitation of such variety is necessary to protect public order or public morality or human, animal and plant life and health or to avoid serious prejudice to the environment or any varieties which has terminator technology or any variety belonging to the species or genera which is not listed in the notification issued by the Central Government cannot be registered for the protection under the Act. CRITERIA FOR PROTECTING A PLANT VARIETY The plant variety must be: 1. Distinct: A variety should be clearly distinguishable by at least one essential characteristic from existing or commonly known varieties in any country at the time of filing of the application. 2. Uniform: A Variety must be sufficiently uniform in its essential characteristics. 3. Stable: Essential characteristics of a variety must be stable after repeated propagation or in the case of a particular cycle of propagation at the end of each cycle. WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE REGISTRATION OF A PLANT VARIETY? a. any person claiming to be the breeder of the variety; b. any successor of the breeder of the variety; c. any person being the Assignee or the breeder of the variety in respect of the right to make such application; d. any farmer or group of farmers or community of farmers claiming to the breeder of the variety; e. any person authorized to make application on behalf of farmers; and f. any university or publicly funded agricultural institution claiming to the breeder of the variety. WHERE TO FILE THE APPLICATION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF A PLANT VARIETY? For the purposes of Protection of Plant Varieties and Framers Right Act, 2001 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority was established in October 2005 and its Head Quarters is located at NASC Complex, DPS Marg, Opp-Todapur, New Delhi - 110 012. Any information regarding protection, application, fee structure etc can be obtained from the office or at http://www.Plantauthority.gov.in/ PREREQUISITES FOR FILING AN APPLICATION FORM FOR REGISTERATION OF PLANT VARIETY Denomination assigned to such variety An affidavit that variety does not contain any gene or gene sequence involving terminator technology Complete passport data of parental lines with its geographical location in India and all such information relating to the contribution if any, of any farmeref) village, community, institution etc in breeding and dev oping the variety Characteristics of variety with description of Novelty, Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability A declaration that the genetic material used for breeding of such variety has been lawfully acquired A breeder or other person making application for registration shall disclose the use of genetic material conserved by any tribal or rural families for improvement of such variety DEPOSITION OF SEED OR PROPAGATING MATERIAL BEFORE REGISTRATION Deposition of seeds is necessary for DUS test conducted by PPV FR authority. The applicant needs to deposit the fixed amount of seed or propagating material with prescribed germination percentage and physical purity along with the seed quality test report to the authority. DURATION OF PROTECTION FOR A REGISTERED PLANT VARIETY  Trees and Vines: 18 Years Other crops: 15 Years. Extant Varieties: 15 Years from the date of notification of that variety by the Central Government under Seed Act, 1966. EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED UNDER THE ACT 1. Farmers Exemption: Farmer shall be entitled to produce, save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under this Act. 2. Researchers Exemption: Researchers are allowed to (i) use the registered variety for conducting experiment (ii) use the variety as an initial source of variety for the purpose of creating other varieties. PLANTS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THE PPVFR ACT 1. As of now following 18 plant species can be registered under the Act. 2. Cereals: Rice, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Pearl Millet. 3. Legumes: Chickpea, Mungbean, Urdhean, Field Pea, Rajmash, Lentil, Pigeaon Pea. 4. Fibre Crop 5. Four species of cotton namely Gossypium Arboreum L and G. Herbaceum L (Diploid Cotton) and G. Barbadense L. and G. Hirsutum L (Tertaploid Cotton) 6. Two species of Jute (Corchorus Olitorius L. and C. Capsularis L) THE RIGHTS ENJOYED BY THE OWNER OF VARIETY/BREEDER'S RIGHTS The owner of the protected variety has the following rights I. To produce II. To Sell III. To market IV. To distribute V. To import and VI. To export the variety. The knowledge of the indigenous people and the traditional farmers has made a significant contribution in the development of new crop types and biodiversity conservation. 1. Monsanto sued farmers for re-sowing GM seed62: Monsanto Company is suing dozens of American and Canadian farmers for infringement of its patent on genetically modified (GM) crops. Investigators hired by the company keeps an eye on the farmers and collect evidence of the illegal planting of the Monsanto's GM crops of cotton, maize, rapeseed and soybean. Farmers who used Monsanto's crops to produce seed for planting have been fined thousands of dollars for patent infringement and some face bankruptcy. The company also advertises a toll-free telephone number for people to inform on farmers who use unlicensed seed.  2. BENEFIT SHARING The Plant Variety Act of India has benefit sharing mechanisms which requires sharing the benefits arising from commercialization of traditional knowledge. The bio-diversity has a great economic value and hence need to be conserved. Unless there is adequate incentive for conserving the bio diversity for future generations, there will be genetic erosion that will ultimately be detrimental to the interests to the society. 3. Case Study of Jeevani: The Miracle Drug The drug Jeevani is developed from the perennial plant Arogyapaacha. Four patent applications were filed on Jeevani. The technology was then licensed to the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Ltd. an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer pursuing the commerciahzation of ayurvedic herbal formulations. A trust was established to share the benefits arising from the commercialization of the traditional knowledge-based drug called ecwani'. The rationale attributed beillg, if the local communities ad not conserved the biodiversity, the probability of scientists making any selection at all would have been remote or nil. Forest Rights Act 2006 Forest landscapes cover over 23% of the country. Around 200 million i.e., 20% of population live in and near India’s forest land. But They had no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods. Results? Both forest and people were suffering. Source: Citizen’s report 2013 on community forest rights under Forest Rights Act. In 2006, “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act was passed which granted legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities. It entitles, Individuals & Families or communities to a right over their own land, and importantly. Empowers the Gram-sabha, or village assembly, with initiating the process of recognition. What kind of Rights? Land rights. Use rights. Rights to protect and conserve. Till Sept 2013, the government had received around 3.3 million claims, but only 40% had resulted in land titles. Community forest rights (CFR) constituted just two per cent (approx.) of all claims, and only 29% of such claims had resulted in land titles. Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Issues in the Implementation Less awareness among government bureaucrats about the FRA has resulted in poor implementation of its provisions. Participation at Gram Sabha level is poor. Recognition of rights of others traditional Forest Dwellers has been grossly neglected in terms of their eligibility. Poor recognition of CFR rights and community rights. There is no clear boundary of community rights area, where multiple villages are dependent on the same forest. Rights holders and the gram sabhas are not empowered enough to protect wildlife, forest and biodiversity, and to regulate access to their forest areas. Large scale interreference by the Forest Department in the rights recognition process. Issues related to preparation of conservation and management plans. Source: Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT: ‘Issues in implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR ‘ 23rd_24th September 2013, BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ACT, 2002 AND THE RULES 2004 India's efforts to realize the goals outlined in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992, which affirms the sovereign rights of states to utilise their own biological resources, gave rise to the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Section 2 (b) “biological diversity” means the variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological complexes of which they are part and includes diversity within species or between species and of eco-systems; Section 2 (c) “biological resources” means plants, animals and micro-organisms or parts thereof, their genetic material and by- products (excluding value added products) with actual or potential use or value, but does not include human genetic material; Section 2 (g) “fair and equitable sharing” means sharing of benefits as determined by the National Biodiversity Authority under section 21; The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 The act was enacted in 2002, it aims at the  conservation of biological resources,  managing its sustainable use and  enabling fair and equitable sharing benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.  The act envisaged a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources:  The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)  The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)  The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level) Salient Provisions of the Act  Transmission of Indian genetic material outside of India is prohibited without express government of India consent;  Anyone claiming an Intellectual Property Right (IPR), such as a patent, over biodiversity or associated knowledge is prohibited from doing so without the Indian Government's consent.;  Regulation of the acquisition and use of biodiversity by Indian citizens, but exempting local populations from such regulations;  Measures for distributing the benefits of biodiversity utilisation, such as technological transfers, financial rewards, shared R&D, joint IPR ownership, etc;  Measures to protect habitats and species, conduct environmental impact analyses before projects, and include biodiversity into various agencies' and sectors' plans, programmes, and policies are all examples of ways to conserve and sustainably utilise biological resources.  Making provisions for local communities to have a say in how their resources and expertise are used and charging fees for this.  Protection of traditional or indigenous knowledge by proper legislation or other steps such as registering such knowledge.  The usage of genetically modified organisms must be governed;  Establishing national, state, and local biodiversity funds to aid in benefit-sharing and conservation.  Creation of a National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, and Local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at the local village level (NBA). BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY RULES 2004 The Central Government hereby promulgates the Biological Diversity Rules, 2004 in accordance with the authority granted by section 62 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and in supersession of the National Biodiversity Authority (salary, Allowances and conditions of service of Chairperson and other Members) Rules, 2003, with the exception of actions taken or not taken prior to such supersession. Hello learners welcome to the session on Protection of Traditional Knowledge,2016  Traditional knowledge refers to the foundational knowledge, abilities, and customs created and upheld by regional, indigenous, and native cultures. It has functioned as the community's spiritual and cultural identity and has been kept and passed down from one generation to the next.  Dr. Tharoor introduced the Protection of Traditional Knowledge Bill to ensure the protection, preservation, promotion, and development of India's Traditional Knowledge as well as for subjects related to or incidental to it. Traditional Knowledge Protection When analysing traditional knowledge protection, three factors are crucial: 1. The requirement to safeguard traditional knowledge  Preservation of ancient knowledge is crucial, especially in these rapidly evolving times.  Protecting traditional knowledge can prevent its unauthorised, commercial exploitation.  Indigenous people who are responsible for bringing it to light could end up incurring enormous losses, both emotionally and financially, if it is left unprotected. Ancient practises can be safeguarded and preserved through preserving traditional knowledge. 2. How can traditional knowledge be safeguarded?  Intellectual property rights typically uses two strategies to protect traditional knowledge: positive protection and defensive mechanism.  Positive Protection Giving traditional knowledge holders the freedom to take the appropriate precautions and pursue remedies in the event that their knowledge base is misused is referred to as positive protection. It entails the adoption of particular laws, norms, and regulations as well as access to benefit-sharing clauses, royalties, and other payments.  Defensive mechanism Conversely, defensive mechanisms relate to the measures taken by holders of traditional knowledge to stop the appropriation of their intellectual property rights. This type of knowledge protection aids conventional knowledge owners in defending their IP rights against unauthorised third-party acquisition. 3. The threat to traditional knowledge  People who possess traditional knowledge frequently run across a number of issues. If it isn't safeguarded, it could endanger community cultures and undermine the very existence of knowledge.  Many social and environmental variables, such as encroaching modern lifestyles, migration, etc., impair traditional methods of preserving and transmitting knowledge to future generations.  Additionally, those who possess traditional knowledge do not get respect or recognition for it.  Traditional knowledge is frequently ignored when science and technology move so quickly. Even though contemporary ideas have taken the place of our understanding of conventional wisdom, we nevertheless need to acknowledge its contributions. Traditional knowledge must be protected and preserved at all costs. Reasons to Protect Traditional Knowledge (TK)  Equity,  Biodiversity conservation,  Preservation of traditional practices,  Prevention of biopiracy, and.  TK's significance in development. Biopiracy: Theft of traditional knowledge (TK) with the intention of obtaining a patent on it exclusively. The method through which the ownership of genetic resources and knowledge is "erased and taken over by those who have abused indigenous knowledge and biodiversity." Example of Biopiracy of Traditional Knowledge - Colgate Case  The biggest toothpaste manufacturer in the world, Colgate, has a patented tooth powder.  A major American retailer of home products received a patent in June for what it called a revolutionary "red herbal dentifrice.“  Indian activists assert that the patent is invalid since the components, such as clove oil, camphor, black pepper, and spearmint, have been employed for the same function on the subcontinent for hundreds, "if not thousands," of years. Its patent application claims that red iron oxide, which is less abrasive than the components in conventional toothpaste, is a novel constituent.  Colgate claims that an ancient recipe has been updated and that by using this "legal contrivance," the American company will avoid having to pay royalties.  To stop the "biopiracy" of its historic folk medicines, which records the methods and claims them as Indian property, India is in the midst of producing 34 million web pages. The United States Patents and Trademark Office is still considering the case. National Attempts to Protect Traditional Knowledge-India National Biological Diversity Act, 2002 Patents Act, 1970 through its amendments in 2005 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers‟ Rights Act, 2001 Geographical Indications Act, 2003 Hello learners welcome to the session on Biodiversity Conservation and Indigenous people India has managed to conserve such a diversity of wildlife despite its large population and development challenges. The reverence that local communities have for Nature has been vital for the government’s sustained success and other agencies’ conservation efforts. However, the government’s conservation activities have created fear amongst the indigenous people for losing their existence in lands that they had inhabited for decades. In this context, proper implementation of the Forests Rights Act, 2006 is required, as the Act envisages protecting the indigenous people’s interests and balancing the right to the environment with their right to life and livelihood. Role of the Indigenous People In Conservation: Conserving Natural Flora: The magico-religious belief of plants’ tribal communities as a god and goddess habitat leads to their conservation in their natural habitat. Further, a wide variety of plants such as crop plants, wild fruits, seeds, bulb, roots and tubers are conserved by the ethnic and indigenous people as they have to depend on these sources for edible purposes. Application of Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous people and biodiversity complement each other. Over time, the rural communities have gathered a pool of indigenous knowledge for the cultivation of the medicinal plants and their propagation. These plants conserved are antidotes to snake bites and scorpion bites or even for broken bones or orthopaedic treatments. Conserving the Sacred Groves: India’s ethnic people have played a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of several virgin forests and have conserved flora and fauna in sacred groves of tribals. Otherwise, these flora and fauna might have disappeared from the natural ecosystem. Plight of Indigenous people: Disruption After Designation of the Status of World Heritage Site: The approach adopted to isolate the indigenous people from their natural habitats to protect biodiversity is the root cause of conflict between them and conservationists. With the announcement of natural habitat as a World Heritage Site, UNESCO takes charge of the region’s conservation. This leads to an infusion of many outside people and technological equipment, which in turn disrupt the lives of the Indigenous people. Lax implementation of the Forest Rights Act: Many states in India have a dismal record in implementing the Forest Rights Act (FRA). This can be reflected with the fact that states like Karnataka had recognised only 5.7% of the total claims made. Further, the FRA’s constitutionality has been challenged in the Supreme Court several times by various conservation organisations. One of the petitioners’ key arguments has been that it is beyond the legislative competence of Parliament to enact the FRA as ‘land’ is a state subject. Development vs Conservation: Often, the combined stretch of land claimed by Indigenous people has been taken away for building dams, mining, laying railway lines and roads, power plants, etc. Moreover, forcibly removing tribal peoples from their land will only result in environmental damage and violate human rights. Illegal Encroachment of Land: The government records also reveal that 43 lakh hectares of forest land encroached legally and illegally until 1980 when the Forest Conservation Act came into force. The Forest Rights Act (FRA): A dramatic shift in the Indian conservation paradigm came in 2006 through the Forest Rights Act that went beyond sanctioning local usage, to conferring local communities’ rights over forest land and produce. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs was mandated to operationalise the Act, while conservation remained under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Forest Rights Act (FRA) is legislation which aims to address the historical injustice that our forest-dwelling communities have had to face for nearly 150 years by providing them with the security of tenure over land for cultivation and habitation through individual rights. It also provides access to various resources through more than a dozen types of community forest rights. The FRA also empowers forest-dwelling communities to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and preserving for sustainable use. It has the provision for creating critical wildlife habitats within protected areas which currently is the most robust conservation provision among existing laws of the country. The FRA does not sanction any fresh clearance of forest, as individual rights over land will only be granted if the forest dweller owned that parcel of land on December 13, 2005. Way Forward: Recognition of the Rights of the Indigenous People: For preserving the rich biodiversity of the region, the recognition of the rights of the forest dwellers who depend on the forests is as important as the declaration of natural habitat as a World Heritage Site. Effective Implementation of the FRA: The government must make an effort to build trust between its agencies in the area and the people who depend on these forests by treating them as equal citizens like everyone else in the country. The FRA’s loopholes have already been identified; all it needs is to work on amending it. Traditional Knowledge of the Tribal People for Conservation: The Biodiversity Act, 2002 mentions about the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities. Therefore, all the stakeholders should realise that indigenous people’s traditional knowledge is a way forward for more effective conservation of biodiversity. Tribals, The Forest Scientists: Tribal peoples are generally regarded as the best conservationists, as they connect with nature more spiritually. The cheapest and quickest way to conserve areas of high biodiversity is to respect tribal peoples’ rights. Conclusion As the indigenous people are integral to conservation as they relate with it in a more integrated and spiritual way, a sense of respect needs to be developed for the indigenous people; their presence helps in the conservation of biodiversity. Indigenous knowledge transmission in india Education programmes provide important tools for human development, but they may also compromise the transmission of indigenous knowledge. With formal education, children spend much time learning passively in classroom settings, rather than engaged in hands-on learning on the land. Teachers replace parents and elders as the holders of knowledge and authority. National languages become the medium of instruction, while vernacular languages are sidelined. Formal education may, therefore, contribute to an erosion of cultural diversity, a loss of social cohesion and the alienation and disorientation of indigenous youth. There is an urgent need to enhance the intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge, as a complement to mainstream education. Efforts are now being made to bring indigenous language and knowledge into school curricula and to move learning back into the community, thus reaffirming the status of elders as knowledge holders.  Conclusion Hello Learners India possesses the world's oldest civilization. Throughout our 5000-year journey, we have been ruled by many rulers from various religions and cultures. Furthermore, a large number of people migrated from other countries, and India welcomed them with open arms. As a result of this exchange, we can see a lot of diversity in our country in terms of religion, culture, race, and religion. Despite these differences, India remained united even during dark times and faced all crises with a united spirit. "Unity among diversity" is the thread that binds all Indians together. In this session, we will look at the meaning of unity in diversity in India, the different types of diversity in India, what diversity is, the provisions for unity in the constitution, the importance of unity, and the obstacles to achieving unity. India is diverse in terms of its religions, ethnicities, customs, and social structures. India's secular and pluralist stance from the country's inception may have aided India in realising a "Diversity Dividend." From Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Indians practise a variety of cultures, religions, languages, and traditions. However, living together with love and peace despite these differences describes India's concept of unity in diversity. The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these. Secularism is important for a country to function democratically. The Indian constitution mandates that the Indian state be secular. According to the constitution, only a secular state can realize its objectives to ensure the following: That one religious community does not dominate another; That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community; That the state does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals. The Indian state works in various ways to prevent the above domination. First, It uses a strategy of distancing itself from religion. The Indian state is not ruled by a religions group and nor does it support any one religion. In, India government spaces like law courts, police stations, government schools and offices are not supposed to display or promote any one religion. Conclusion Indian culture is a synthesis of many different human cultural trends that is organic an d harmonious. India is an excellent example of the one in many philosophies despite having a diverse culture. There is a deeper unity in diversity than that produced by either geographic seclusion or political suzerainty. There is a unity in India that transcends the countless differences in race, colour, language, dress, manners, and sects. The continuity of religious practises and the spirit of tolerance displayed by its people throughout history is what makes Indian culture, civilization, and its history distinctive. In this course, I hope you all understood the essence of Tradtional knowledge. Indian traditional knowledge is widespread as we have seen. It is there in our culture, languages and literature, it is spreaded through our religion, it is in expressed in our fine arts in the form of music, dance, paintings, drama, handicrafts and it is inherent in our medicinal system of practice. Also the deep traditional knowledge can be seen in different sectors like engineering, architecture, bio diversity and sustainable development. As we all know it is our responsibility to protect and preserve this novel indigenous knowledge legally. Hope you have enjoyed learning the course. Thank you