East Singhbhum is Jharkhand's hotspot in a Tribal Affairs project to conserve medicinal plants with CSIR-NBRI
12 November 2026
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, have begun a three-year project on medicinal plants in tribal areas. It was launched on 12 November 2026 at the Central University of Odisha, Koraput. The project covers 16 tribal hotspots in 13 States and Union Territories, and East Singhbhum is the one chosen from Jharkhand. Work includes documenting about 200–300 medicinal plant species and raising 30–40 rare, endangered and threatened species. Each hotspot is to get a community nursery and a seed bank, 16 of each in all. Some 40,000–50,000 quality planting materials will be handed out. The aim is to turn tribal knowledge of local plants into livelihoods, linking Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Van Dhan Vikas Kendras with communities.
In plain words
CSIR-NBRI CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute — A plant-science laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lucknow.
RET species Rare, endangered and threatened species — Plant or animal species at risk of disappearing.
VDVK Van Dhan Vikas Kendra — A cluster of tribal gatherers who process and sell minor forest produce.