Mother Teresa Varsity’s IPR Efforts Empower Kodaikanal Tribes

Swift Summary

• Tribespeople living in the Palani Hills, Kodaikanal taluk, are being supported to enhance their livelihoods through intellectual property rights (IPR) applications.
• A.Usha Raja Nanthini, Biotechnology Department Head at Mother Teresa Women’s University, filed 150 IPR applications for industrial designs of jewelry made with naturally-occurring seeds found locally.
• The project is funded by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) and aims to train tribespeople in jewellery-making and marketing products online.
• Five tribal women have established a micro-enterprise named Tulir to sell honey, nutmeg, lichens, benzoin resin (sambrani), myrobalan (kadukkai), and seed-based jewellery via a forthcoming website.
• Villagers from Pazhiyar and puliyar tribes mostly live off collecting non-timber forest produce but face challenges due to isolation; few have studied beyond high school.
• Training for jewellery-making began in January 2024 after prototypes were approved by TNSCST; 50 villagers have been trained across several hamlets.
• Additional training in apiculture (beekeeping) has also been imparted by members of a women’s self-help group collaborating with the Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

indian Opinion Analysis

This initiative demonstrates the potential for leveraging local resources combined with modern innovation to empower marginalized communities sustainably. the filing of intellectual property rights not only protects unique local designs but also establishes ownership frameworks that can yield long-term economic benefits. By focusing on skill development among tribal populations often excluded from mainstream economic activity due to geographical remoteness or lack of education access, such initiatives offer an inclusive growth model.

The participation of tribal women in establishing Tulir signifies a critical step toward gender empowerment within these communities. However, success would hinge heavily on infrastructure improvements-such as better access routes-as well as ensuring consistent market demand for the products sold online. As a broader implication for India’s development goals, this project aligns well with efforts geared toward preservation-based enduring entrepreneurship while tapping into traditional knowledge systems frequently enough overlooked in policy planning.

Read more here: Published – July 15, 2025 09:44 pm IST