NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday expressed concern that tribals had been deprived of access to benefits of significant advancements in science, technology as well as public health services.
Speaking at the virtual curtain raiser ceremony by ICMR-National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur as a part of 6th India International Science Festival 2020, he said “Often residing in hard to reach areas with difficult terrains, our tribal population has had inequitable access to benefits of our significant advancements in science, technology as well as public health services.”
The tribals, he noted, represent a unique and colourful segment of the Indian culture. “Our tribals lead a lifestyle with beliefs, customs, values and traditions that are in sync with nature,” and expressed happiness that the ICMR-NIRTH, Jabalpur was an institute wholly dedicated to biomedical research on health and social issues related to the tribal population.