Author: Rosamma Jose
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: February 13, 2004
URL: http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/nation/2004/february/76269.htm
A US-based company has hijacked
the trademark of Jeevani, a wonder medicine ideal for fighting fatigue,
which brought substantial financial benefit to the Kani tribals in Kerala,
who discovered it.
The US firm, called NutriScience
Innovations, has been selling the medicine developed by the Tropical Botanical
Gardens and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, using the knowledge
of the tribals, without passing on any benefits to them, according to a
UN Study.
Jeevani is produced from Arogyapaacha,
grown extensively by the tribals living in the Agasthya Hills near Thiruvananthapuram.
So far, the Coimbatore Arya Vaidya
Pharmacy marketed the drug. Tribal healers got part of the proceeds.
