In fact, the database, Medflor-India (AP), was prepared by a Hyderabad-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Institute of Health Systems (IHS), at the behest of Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC), a subsidiary of the tribal welfare department in 1994.

But, after that, neither the GCC nor the tribal welfare department showed any interest in harnessing the compendium of data on the valuable herbs for the healthcare of tribals in the State. The Government is also uninterested in continuing the project for its further development.

The IHS so far coded the data of about 1,750 usages of 700 plants. But, if the project is continued, it is expected to code another 11,284 usages at the rate of 150 usages per month. While IHS anticipated coding about 9,000usages, the remaining are sought to be coded by various universities.

Interestingly, the IHS is founded by Dr Prashant Mahapatra, an IAS officer who previously held various positions in the medical and health department. "I urged the TW department for support for the continuing the project, but they are yet to take a decision," he told The Indian Express.

However, inquiries revealed that the Government is in two minds over funding the project as no one knows it consequences. "The IHS asked for a three-year project, but we do not know whether we can undertake it," a senior official said.

Earlier, the GCC gave about Rs 5 lakh for the project and now the IHS has been asking for another Rs 64 lakh for its continuation over a period of three years. "The cost of the project is not so high. But, the finance department has its own problems," he explained.

Tribal Welfare Commissioner T S Appa Rao said that the department was still examining the matter and a decision would be taken soon. He, however,felt that his department may not be in a position to carry out a research project of this kind as it was the job of science and technology department.

In fact, the Government is aware of the importance of herbal medicines in tribal healthcare. Even Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently asked the doctors to include herbal medicines in their prescriptions so as to win the confidence of tribals in agency areas.

It was found during the recent outbreak of gastroenteritis in some remote areas that most of the tribals still prefer taking local herbal medicines to going to a Government health centre where allopathic medicines were prescribed.

The reluctance of tribals to accept allopathy is a cause of worry to the health department. According to a study by the TW department, the death rate among tribals of AP was alarmingly high compared to other states.

If the death rate is 15 per 1,000 among Savaras, it is 16.5 among Konda Reddys, 17.5 among Gadabas and it is as high as 19.48 among Jatapus as againstthe State average of 9.9 per 1,000. According to estimates, the death rate of non-tribals would be around 7 per 1,000.

According to an appraisal report on the AP tribal development project submitted for the assistance of the international fund for agricultural development in 1990, the convergence of herbal medical resources with modern medicines was found necessary for an effective tribal health system.

There are about 93 tribal and ethnic groups in AP. But, the ethnobotanical knowledge of only 15 ethnic groups has been documented so far. Based on the documentation, the IHS coded data on 608 usages of 242 plants and herbs.