The Times of India | Ranchi Edition | 9 October 2026
Giridih, Jharkhand: An initiative led by environmentalist and agripreneur Rajeev Singh to protect medicinal plants, preserve indigenous ecological knowledge and promote forest biodiversity conservation was featured in The Times of India on 9 October 2026.
The report highlighted the importance of conserving Jharkhand’s traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and forests while encouraging scientific documentation, environmental awareness and community participation.
As part of the initiative, three digital platforms — Hodopathy.org, Hodopathy.in and Hodopathy.com — were inaugurated in Giridih. These websites aim to document the experiences of Adivasi elders, traditional healers and local knowledge holders, creating a foundation for preserving traditional medicinal plant knowledge.
The newspaper also reported the initiative’s connection with Hodopathy Park in Gandey, where the conservation and propagation of local medicinal plant species form part of the broader environmental objectives.
The proposed programme includes digital documentation of indigenous knowledge, publication of traditional healers’ experiences and medicinal plant information, youth training in plant identification and conservation, and scientific studies in collaboration with research institutions.
The initiative also proposes reviewing collected information against available scientific literature to support responsible documentation and research.
Rajeev Singh emphasised that traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation are closely connected. Preserving indigenous knowledge requires protecting the plants, forests and natural habitats that have supported these traditions for generations.
The programme reflects an integrated approach to environmental sustainability, combining community knowledge, biodiversity conservation, education and scientific investigation.
Through responsible documentation and community participation, the initiative seeks to strengthen awareness of medicinal plant diversity and the importance of protecting Jharkhand’s natural heritage.
Source: The Times of India, Ranchi Edition, 9 October 2026.