Irula's tribal secrets unraveled

The Irulas'' Natural ProductsCorporation is a partnership firm located in the ITWWS campus, which produces,promotes and markets Irula health-care products. It provides employment toseveral hundred Irula women. Its work extends to the conservationand wise use of medicinal plants. A team of experienced vaidyars and technicalstaff process the raw materials. Products include medicines; teas and hair careproducts and are tested by qualified doctors. These Licencedproducts were launched in New Delhi on March 18th, 2005 with the support ofMinistry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development. Theterm Irula means being capable of finding one''s path in dark forests, accordingto an Irula myth. This is characteristic of the Irulas.Born innature''s lap, Irulas share a symbiotic relationship with Mother Earth. Theyreside in the hills of northern Tamil Nadu and are one among the six oldestAdivasi tribes. Irulas'' are specialists in traditional herbalmedicine and healing practices. Irula vaidyars, mostly women, practicetraditional healing systems, which use over 320 medicinal herbs.They treat several new-age diseases with a high success rate. Peoplearound the world realize that traditional healing practices must have a place inmodern medicine.The Irula Tribal Women''s Welfare Society (ITWWS),established in 1986, focuses on this traditional science. Itempowers Irula women by promoting their medicinal products. This revival oftraditional healing systems addresses public health needs as well as conservesIrula culture and expertise. ITWWS organises forums for exchange ofinformation between vaidyars, workshops on traditional knowledge for youngschool-going Irulas, and meetings on gender, adivasi identity, and other issues.It is located south of Chennai, in Thandarai village 10 kms fromChengalpet town. Tribes India is the marketing arm of TRIFED, aministry of Tribal Affairs'' Enterprise. The objective is to showcasetribal arts and crafts and to ensure remunerative prices to tribal artisans fortheir artistic creations.This provides upliftment to the poor tribalartisan. The Irula Natural Herbal Products would be showcase at theTribes outlet in New Delhi under their Organic/Natural produce section. Besides this the products atTribes are broadly categorized into - *Metal Craft *Tribal Textiles*Tribal Jewelry *Cane and Bamboo*Terracotta & stonePottery *Tribal Paintings *Gifts and Accessories.Theseproducts are a culmination of the powerhouse of knowledge of medicinal herbs ofthe Irulas, that forms a part of their rich heritage.Irulas'' NaturalProducts are made from medicinal plants grown in a pure, unpolluted environment.No pesticides. No fertilizers.All proceeds from sales directlybenefit the Irulas.These products use the forest-based science andtechnology of the Irula tribe of Tamilnadu.