Herbal Medicine as Sustainable Livelihood: A Case of Irula Tribal Women Welfare Society from Rural India

Abstract

The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is a regional, intergovernmental and autonomous institution. It was established in 1979 at the initiative of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations with support from other UN organisations and donor countries/agencies. The member countries of CIRDAP are Afghanistan, Bangladesh (host state), India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. The main objectives of the Centre are to: (i) assist national action, (ii) promote regional cooperation, and (iii) act as a servicing institution for its member countries for promotion of integrated rural development through research, action research, training and information dissemination. Amelioration of rural poverty in the Asia-Pacific region has been the prime concern of CIRDAP. The programme priorities of CIRDAP are set under four Areas of Concern: 1) Agrarian development; 2) Institutional/infrastructural development; 3) Resource development including human resources; and 4) Employment. Within these areas of concern, the thematic areas identified for the Third Six-Year Plan (2002-2007) are: Poverty alleviation through participatory approaches with emphasis on social sector development (e.g. health, education and nutrition); Employment generation through microcredit support, infrastructure development and local resource mobilisation; GO-NGO collaboration; Gender issues; Governance issues; and Environmental concerns for sustainable rural development. Operating through designated Contact Ministries and Link Institutions in member countries, CIRDAP promotes technical cooperation among nations of the region. It plays a supplementary and reinforcing role in supporting and furthering the effectiveness of integrated rural development programmes in the Asia-Pacific region.