Open AccessThe Politics of Knowledge Economy and Sustainability of Tribal Knowledge and Health in India
Author(s) -
Kausiki Mukhopadhyay,
Pallab Paul,
Indeesh Mukhopadhyay
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of business and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.236
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 1511-6670
DOI - 10.33736/ijbs.3305.2020
Subject(s) - equity (law) , multinational corporation , politics , intellectual property , sustainability , globalization , business , corporate social responsibility , economics , market economy , economic growth , public economics , political science , public relations , finance , law , ecology , biology
With globalization, developing countries have been adopting the model of knowledge economy with its flagship features standardized patents and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This model is supposed to deliver growth and equity through standardized patents and through market corrections of asymmetrical power between the corporations and general public via CSR. However, under this model, distributional equity has been declining. Instead of knowledge increasing and creating more equity, the traditional health-knowledge of tribal people (mostly poor) in India is being denuded along with innovation. This has been due to bio-piracy by multinational corporations. In addition, insensitive state policies that focus on growth policies at the expense of equity have exacerbated the situation. Under such circumstances, the health situation of tribal people is becoming dire. The authors argue that land redistribution and customized Intellectual Property rights (IPR) for communities as a whole may be the way forward provided there is political will.