Bio-piracy is biggest concern, says Jairam Ramesh

CHANDIGARH - Bio-piracy, which is gradually robbing India of its precious assets and rich bio-diversity, has emerged as one of the biggest concerns before the union environment and forests ministry.

“Bio-piracy is one of the biggest threats and concerns for India. Recently the US tried to get the patent of our basmati rice with a different name. There are many other products of neem and haldi, of immense value, facing similar threats,” said union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh while addressing a convention on bio-diversity here Monday.

“Every year hundreds of patents are being granted in the US and in Europe. Therefore, to save our original products, we had established ‘traditional knowledge digital library’. We have also signed agreements with the US and European patent offices to save our intellectual property rights,” he said.

Ramesh was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the sixth edition of three-day national meeting of state bio-diversity boards that began Monday.

Ramesh said the authorities concerned are also promoting “people bio-diversity registration” to protect the bio-resources.

“Indian culture is not written, it is in an oral form that is conveyed from one generation to another. But modern society is based on written form. Therefore, to avoid various violations, we have started writing down that is called people bio-diversity register. States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have already started it,” said Ramesh.

Ramesh said that his ministry was not following an approach of prohibition and favoured a regulatory approach in the field of bio-diversity. “We would allow the usage of our bio-diversity resources in a very sustainable manner,” he pointed out.

Talking about unexplored area of marine bio-diversity, Ramesh said, “We have to admit that we have neglected the area of marine bio-diversity. If we compare it with forests or agro-diversity, then we have paid somewhat less attention towards this.”

“India has a long coastline of 7,500 km. There is a strong interaction between land and oceans that brings rain. So, we have to move our attention towards it. Besides, we are also worried about avian bio-diversity,” he said.

The minister announced that India will host an international convention on bio-diversity in Oct 2012 in New Delhi and representatives from nearly 194 countries will attend it.

“I hope this convention will be less controversial and more productive than the Commonwealth Games. We are among very few countries that have the privilege of having a National Bio-diversity Act, 2002, and the National Bio-diversity Authority, 2003,” said the minister.