Development of Multimedia Database of Traditional Knowledge in Andhra Pradesh

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
Technology Information Facilitation Programme (TIFP)

Development of Multimedia Database of Traditional Knowledge in Andhra Pradesh by Institute of Defence Scientist and Technologists, Delhi.

Objectives

Collection of information about the natural resources (hills, mountains, forests, temples, masjids, churches, etc.) of historical importance from gazetteers and other government publications.
Selection of 3 to 4 locations in each of the tribal areas and a few selected historical, religious places of Andhra Pradesh.
The knowledge expressed by the individuals and the information on the materials used for traditional practices will be collected through video recording.

The traditional knowledge that will be available through this project would be highly useful for the following purposes:

a) To help the pharmaceutical industry for developing new medicinal products.
b) To preserve intellectual property rights for the applications of traditional materials.
c) To get foreign markets for this knowledge applications.
d) To add to the present scientific knowledge.

Outcome of the project

DSIR has received the Completion Project Report. Total 243 persons from 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh were interviewed. The Interviews on traditional knowledge of local health care were documented and were video recorded. 450 numbers of plants species were collected. Their scientific/botanical names were recorded. Video recording of the interviews and its English version on CD is available. Index to the databases includes:

 Medicinal plants with scientific names, which is again hyper-linked with the video recording. This gives the utility of the plant as medicine.
 Keywords include diseases as well as plants, which are again hyper-linked with the video recording.

For query, contact to

The Scientist – “G” and Head, TPDU
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110016
Email: rra@nic.in

Or

Lt. Gen (Retd) Tej Paul, Chairman (D)
Institute of Defence Scientists and Technologists,
C/o Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environmental Safety (DRDO)
Brig. Mazumdar Marg,
Timarpur, Delhi-110054

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Updated on: 06/07/2010