Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 17
It is learnt that the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India complemented by allied departments like the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, is conducting extensive, clandestine, centrally-funded studies under the Human Genome Diversity Project on the genetic make-up of the Naga race. According to reports, the study has penetrated deep into Nagaland and also the Naga-dominated Southern areas of Manipur.
According to highly-reliable sources, in Nagaland, blood samples of “some” major tribes like that of the Aos, the Lothas, the Angamis and the Sumis is believed to have already been dispatched to New Delhi “for HIV/AIDS tests”. The research is also being assisted by local individuals involved in medical practice it was added. Details regarding the exact date when the dispatch, about 1000 to 1050 blood samples to the Ministry of Health, was sent were not made available at the time of filing this report. However sources said that the blood samples were dispatched two weeks back. In Dimapur, the collection of blood samples, maintained to be “purely for HIV/AIDS tests” is being undertaken by a medical research office located in the main town, sources said but refused to divulge further details on the exact location. It is also learnt that youths are being employed, about 150 of them according to another source. The questions being raised here is that HIV/AIDS tests can be done from any health centers or precisely under the supervision/sanction of the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS).
In the predominant south Naga areas of Manipur, sub-groups like the Chothe, the Anals as well as fringe-ethnic groups like the Thadou Kukis and Kuki-Chin groups like the Paite (Zomi) etc are at the focus of the studies which have been on for the last 5 years, according to documents made available for this news report. The research is being undertaken by a college in Chandel district which has been identified as Chandel United College Lambung in Manipur which is researching at the behest of the University of Delhi, Department of Anthropology to confirm and identify their true ethnic source and to categorize them. Presently, the Chothe and the Anals are identified as Nagas and the project is to confirm this claim. The amount sanctioned for the research is Rs 33.53 Lakhs.
Additional sources who were initially involved in the Human Genome Project but now resigned, informed that in the south, specifically Chandel District, the project studies have been halted (about three months back) for time being due to opposition from frontline Naga organizations like the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and the Naga Students Federation (NSF). However, it was informed that in the mentioned south, some high-placed Genetic researchers, who have been confirmed as Naga professors, at the behest of Central universities were lobbying for resumption of the project by approaching various organizations and agencies.
Meanwhile in a related matter, the NSF has asked the Research Development Initiatives (RDI) Ltd, Malvi Nagar, New Delhi to immediately discontinue “anything that is to do with Naga blood because the NSF at any cost will not allow it continue as long as it involved Nagas blood”. The NSF took strong exception at the methodology being employed by the RDI, which has an office branch at Dimapur, in collecting blood samples in all districts of Nagaland and dispatching them outside. “Referring back to the attempt made under Nagaland University in 2000-2001 and the reaction of the NSF based on the possible misuse of blood samples for Human Genome studies, the NSF divulged enough reasons why the Federation objects to the project involving Nagas’ blood” a release from V Pushika Aomi, President and WH Maring, Speaker F/A, stated. In this regard the NSF has demanded that the project of the RDI be discontinued.
It was also informed that the NSF convened a meeting with representatives of the RDI on May 16 at the Conference Hall, Naga Club Building in Kohima where the Federation made known its displeasure while the Research Initiative spelled out its project which was explained to be for “family health analysis”.
“While appreciating the concern for health of the Nagas (by the RDI), the NSF officials made its stand very clear that the Federation cannot take any chance on sending Nagas’ blood outside for any kind of testing/examination”.
It may be elucidated here that the burning issue of Human Genome Project is a new research-science still in its infancy and figures amongst the highly unreliable science-technologies in modern times. The scheme is inclusive of a main focus-area termed as the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) which focuses on the identification, processing and manipulation of genetic traits such as of ethnic groups, tribal-gene sources et al which, activists around the world say, can be misused socio-politically and also lead to devising of conduits for commercial gains. Questions are also being raised regarding this science due to the highly possible prospect of the human genes being misused for political gains. The HGP has the objective of mapping the genetic resources of the human race with the aim of establishing the underlying uniformity to one’s claimed race. Genetic groupings are then made on the basis of caste, ethnicity, religion, and likened segregation-factors. Patents can also be claimed on the genes of a specified race-group. There are no safeguards till now against the potential for this genetic information to be used for biological warfare. Ethnic Race-groups around like the Amazon Indians, Native Indians of Canada and the Afrikaans are being threatened by the HGDP. Biotechnology has its roots in Eugenics whereby one race is pitted against the next on grounds of racial superiority like the one experienced in Nazi Germany. The motive was to take the debate elsewhere and confine it to the elite sections only” Dr Vandana Shiva an activist had said in an interview. A highly-placed concern said that government laboratories and hospitals are actively collaborating with foreign agencies under the guise of biotech research.
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