Introduction

Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti is a rural development association working for the welfare of the poor tribal population through sustainable development, health, education and income-generation activities. JJVS was established as non-profit social service society in 1987 in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The word Jagran generally means aware or awake, but locally it has also acquired the meaning of "worship" as in "ratri jagran," the tribal people's all-night prayer, song and worship sessions. Jan in turn means "people" and Vikas Samiti, "enablement society". The organization is now usually referred to simply as Jagran Jan, and consists of members of local tribal communities and social activists. It is now active in more than 70 villages in the Salumber, Sarada and Girva areas, and it is the members of these communities who decide the organization's goals, rules and procedures.

In recognition of the area's rich traditional heritage, Jagran Jan has always striven to keep the unique local culture alive. Although Jagran Jan works in various areas of development, it has especially promoted local health care through the use of herbal medicines and village "Gunies". A Guni - literally, wise man - is a male or female tribal doctor who collects medicinal herbs, prepares them for use and dispenses them to the people. Among these tribal doctors such medical knowledge was passed down hereditarily from parent to child, and each generation added some new innovations to what was already known. These simple and pious healers do not hold degrees and historically have treated people for free regardless of their caste and religion.

The gunies have developed treatments for a wide range of health problems including asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, other respiratory disorders, fevers, malaria, childhood pneumonia, conjunctivitis, constipation, diarrhea, arthritis, rheumatic pain, nerve disorders, high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, gynecological disorders, skin diseases, broken bones, sprains, burns, boils, snake and scorpion bites, etc.

Jagran Jan brings together local gunies with tribal medical specialists from around the nation, as well as Ayurveds and other natural health tradition therapists, allowing them all to interact and share knowledge. The organization holds seminars, training programs and health camps to foster a continuous medical education program for the gunies. Presently the gunies are experimenting with cures for diabetes and leucoderma as well as researching natural birth control medicines.

Jagran Jan Objectives

1. Revival and restoration of fast deteriorating traditional and indigenous systems of medicine.
2. Enhancing respect for gunies living in deep rural areas by sharpening and developing their skills.
3. Increasing supply, quality and diversity of natural medications by cultivating therapeutic herbs and plants in forests and other appropriate areas.
4. Forest restoration and husbandry featuring a wide variety of beneficial species.

Major Achievements

• Revivifying the declining historic guni tradition.
• Comprehensive survey of herbs and plants in the Udaipur forest areas.
• Cultivation of endangered medicinal plants.
• Creation of medicinal plant seed banks.
• Establishment of village dispensaries and medicinal herb gardens for the gunies.
• Training camps for gunies at the local, state and national level.
• Development of an inter-disciplinary education approach for gunies, Ayurveds, botanists and ecologists.
• Guni training in Ayurvedic panchakarma massage and creation of a panchakarma massage center.
• Graduation of 300 proficient gunies to date.
• Marketing Ayurvedic Chavanparash and other guni-prepared salves & medicaments.
• Organizing popular guni-run treatment camps for the public.
• Publishing the Goan Ke Guni quarterly and other booklets on the guni program and natural medicines.
• Preparing audiovisual documentation and exhibitions on the gunies' work.

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