In the Rajya Sabha, while replying to a starred question, the Minister of Tribal Affairs recently stated that there are no current plans to expand the Swasthya Portal to integrate national health databases, district-level dashboards, or AI-enabled analytics.

About Swasthya Portal

The Swasthya Portal is a one-stop digital platform that presents comprehensive information on the health and nutrition status of India’s tribal population. It has been developed to support evidence-based planning and decision-making for tribal welfare.

Administrative Framework

The portal has been developed under the Central Sector Scheme “Tribal Research Information Education Communication and Events (TRI ECE)” of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
It is hosted on the National Informatics Centre (NIC) server and is maintained by the Centre of Excellence for Knowledge Management for Health and Nutrition, established by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Objectives

The primary objective of the Swasthya Portal is to aggregate, analyse, and disseminate information related to tribal health and nutrition. It aims to facilitate the exchange of evidence, expertise, and experiences among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working with tribal communities.

Key Features of the Swasthya Portal

Dashboard

The portal includes a data dashboard that presents curated information from multiple sources for 177 identified high-priority tribal districts.

Knowledge Repository

It hosts a repository of research briefs, case studies, innovative practices, and best practices collected from various regions of India.

Partner Segment

This section enables collaboration and information-sharing among stakeholders and partner organisations working in tribal health and nutrition.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Support Corner

A dedicated segment provides focused information and resources related to Sickle Cell Disease, which has a high prevalence among tribal populations.

Utility and Significance

Information available on the Swasthya Portal provides valuable insights to government agencies, researchers, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders engaged in improving health and nutrition outcomes among tribal communities.

About the TRI ECE Scheme

Nature of the Scheme

Tribal Research Information Education Communication and Events (TRI ECE) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Financial Support

Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to research organisations, reputed institutions, universities, and research institutes with proven expertise and a track record of pioneering research.

Purpose

The scheme aims to develop replicable and scalable models in key areas such as education, health, livelihood, digital governance, and related fields for tribal development.

Recent scientific studies on Deodar trees in the Sangla Valley of Himachal Pradesh have revealed valuable evidence of long-term climatic shifts. Tree-ring data indicate a transition from wetter spring conditions during pre-historic times to drier climatic conditions from around the year 1757 onwards, highlighting the role of Deodar trees in climate reconstruction.

About the Deodar Tree

The Deodar tree, also known as the Himalayan Cedar, is one of the most revered and iconic tree species of the Western Himalayas. The name Deodar is derived from the Sanskrit word “Devadāru”, meaning “wood of the gods”, reflecting its deep cultural and spiritual significance in Indian traditions.

Geographical Distribution

Deodar trees are mainly found in the western Himalayan region, forming an important component of temperate forest ecosystems.

Ecological and Cultural Importance

The Deodar tree plays a critical ecological role in high-altitude forest systems and also holds immense cultural value. Traditionally, its durable wood has been used in temple construction, religious rituals, and Ayurvedic medicine.

Habitat and Climatic Requirements

Deodar trees thrive in well-drained soils and moist temperate climatic conditions. They are commonly found at altitudes ranging between 1,800 and 3,000 metres, particularly in alpine and subalpine forest zones.

Physical Characteristics

Deodar is a large evergreen conifer that can grow up to 50 metres in height. It has a tall pyramidal shape, with drooping branches and needle-like bluish-green leaves.
The bark is dark grey, becoming deeply fissured as the tree ages. The tree bears solitary, erect, ovoid cones, which are dark brown in colour. Both male and female cones occur on the same tree.

Threats to the Deodar Tree

Despite its importance, the Deodar tree faces several threats, including excessive logging, habitat loss, and the impacts of climate change, which have affected its natural distribution and regeneration.

A recent Nature Sustainability study has highlighted that invasive alien plants are spreading across nearly 15,500 square kilometres of India’s natural areas every year. Over the last 60 years, these invasions have caused economic losses estimated at ₹8.3 lakh crore and pose serious threats to ecosystems, wildlife, agriculture, and rural livelihoods.

What are Invasive Alien Plant Species?

Invasive alien plant species are non-native plants that are introduced either intentionally or unintentionally into ecosystems outside their natural range. Once established, they outcompete native species, disrupt ecological balance, and cause economic, environmental, and human health impacts.

The spread of invasive plants is being accelerated by climate change, land-use changes, altered fire regimes, soil moisture variations, livestock grazing patterns, and widespread biodiversity loss.

Major Invasive Plant Species in India

Some of the most aggressive invasive plant species in India include:

• Lantana camara

• Chromolaena odorata

• Prosopis juliflora

Together, invasive plant species have already spread across 266,954 square kilometres of India’s natural habitats.

High-Risk Regions and Vulnerable Ecosystems

Regions facing particularly high invasion risks include:

• The Shivalik–Terai belt

• The Duar region of Northeast India

• The Aravalli range

• Dandakaranya forests

• The Nilgiris in the Western Ghats

Open ecosystems such as dry grasslands, savannas, shola grasslands, and the wet plains of the Ganga–Brahmaputra basin are especially vulnerable due to their ecological openness and frequent human use.

Impacts of Invasive Alien Plant Species

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Invasive plants aggressively replace native vegetation, leading to ecosystem homogenisation, soil degradation, and large-scale ecological disruption. As native plants decline, herbivores lose their natural food sources, which in turn reduces prey availability for predators, destabilising entire food webs.

Livestock and Agriculture

The spread of invasive species reduces the availability of fodder and grazing lands, directly affecting livestock health and productivity. By 2022, about 2.79 million livestock and nearly 2 lakh square kilometres of smallholder farmland were exposed to invasive species impacts.

Human Livelihoods and Health

Invasive plants reduce access to fodder, fuelwood, and fertile land, undermining rural livelihoods. They also contribute to health problems such as respiratory ailments and deepen poverty by weakening income security. Around 144 million people have been exposed to risks associated with invasive plant spread.

Challenges in Managing Invasive Plant Species in India

1. Institutional Gaps
   India lacks a dedicated national mission or central authority to coordinate invasive species management.

2. Data and Monitoring Deficit
   There is no unified national database or long-term monitoring system for invasive plants.

3. Weak Biosecurity Measures
   Ineffective quarantine and border controls allow new invasive species to enter the country.

4. Limited Scientific Research
   There is insufficient research on species-specific control methods and long-term ecosystem recovery.

5. High Cost of Manual Removal
   Manual removal is labour-intensive, costly, and often ineffective without sustained follow-up.

6. Poor Post-removal Restoration
   Many cleared areas are not restored, enabling rapid reinvasion by invasive species.

Measures Required for Effective Management

• Establish a National Invasive Species Mission with clear leadership and mandates, and integrate invasive control into climate adaptation, watershed management, and ecosystem restoration programmes.

• Develop a centralised GIS-based database, early-warning systems, and a nationwide monitoring network.

• Strengthen quarantine screening, border biosecurity, and import regulations for plants, seeds, and soil.

• Increase research funding for ecological modelling, biological control, and restoration science.

• Promote community-led removal efforts, supported by mechanical tools and sustainable utilisation options such as biofuel production.

• Ensure active ecological restoration using native grasses and shrubs after removal to prevent reinvasion.

Conclusion

The rapid expansion of invasive alien plant species in India poses a serious threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods. Addressing this challenge requires urgent, coordinated national action, strong institutions, scientific research, and community participation. A comprehensive national mission is essential to build long-term ecological resilience and safeguard India’s natural heritage.