Minister highlights equitable inclusion in ‘Genome India’ project
The government revealed on Thursday that approximately 36.7 percent of the samples for the ambitious 'Genome India' project were gathered from rural regions, 32.2 percent from urban areas, and 31.1 percent from tribal communities. Addressing a question in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, assured that the project ensured equitable representation from rural, urban, and tribal communities.
The 'Genome India' initiative, managed by the Department of Biotechnology, guarantees fair representation in the collection of samples.
The minister also pointed out that to accomplish this objective, the researchers working on the Genome India project encountered several challenges, including accessing remote tribal areas to collect samples and data from these communities, overcoming socio-economic and cultural obstacles, and persuading these populations to participate in the project.
According to the minister, rural and tribal communities lack adequate awareness about the advantages of genetic research, resulting in misconceptions about its purpose and value. Educating and persuading these populations was challenging.
Rural and tribal communities were harder to reach, whereas urban populations were generally more accessible and better informed. Therefore, it was crucial to eliminate bias by ensuring the participation of representative proportions from all population groups.
The ministry stated that the lack of advanced healthcare facilities, laboratories, and qualified professionals in remote areas made it difficult to gather samples and perform blood parameter tests.
Dr. Singh also mentioned that the 'Genome India' team employed pre-determined strategies to address various challenges.
The minister stated that logistics hubs were set up nearby for sample transportation, and laboratories were contacted beforehand to ready resources for managing an increased volume of samples.
Furthermore, collaborations with local healthcare facilities were established to simplify data gathering and enhance accessibility. Awareness campaigns and community involvement efforts were carried out to educate people about the significance of genetic research and to reassure participants about data privacy, thereby debunking misconceptions and explaining the objectives of the 'Genome India Project'.
(Agency)
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