Sat Dec 13 14:19:29 UTC 2025: Summary:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sanctioned a ₹13.5 crore, four-year research project across seven states (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal) to reduce snakebite mortality and morbidity. The “Zero Snakebite Death Initiative,” led by Jaideep Menon of Kerala’s Amrita Institute, aims to create a unified, replicable national model for snakebite prevention and management. The project will study successful regional strategies, including the Demow Model in Assam, which emphasizes community engagement and referral networks. The research, under the banner of SARPA, will begin in January 2026, with ICMR allocating resources for each participating state. The goal is to bridge the gap between affected communities and formal health systems to ensure timely treatment, addressing India’s high snakebite death rate.
News Article:
ICMR Launches Multi-State Initiative to Combat Deadly Snakebites
Guwahati, December 13, 2025: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a significant investment in tackling the critical public health challenge of snakebite envenoming in India. A ₹13.5 crore, four-year research project, titled “Zero Snakebite Death Initiative: Community Empowerment and Engagement for Mitigation of Snakebite Envenoming,” has been sanctioned and will be implemented across seven states: Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Led by Jaideep Menon of Kerala’s Amrita Institute, the initiative aims to develop a unified, replicable, and highly effective national model for snakebite prevention and management. The project will analyze and integrate proven regional strategies, including the acclaimed “Demow Model” from eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district, known for its robust community engagement and referral networks. Surajit Giri from the Demow Hospital has been appointed as the investigator for the State on this project.
Other strategies being studied include protective equipment distribution in Maharashtra, anti-snake venom injection during transport in Himachal Pradesh, and the use of digital tools for better coordination and real-time surveillance in Kerala.
The research will operate under the banner of SARPA (Snakebite Awareness, Response, Prevention, and Action). According to an ICMR spokesperson, “This integrated approach seeks to bridge the critical gap between affected communities and formal health systems, ensuring victims receive life-saving treatment within the crucial golden hour.”
The research and community study are scheduled to begin in January 2026. ICMR has allocated resources, including research scientists and technical staff for each participating state.
The initiative is a crucial step towards addressing India’s disproportionately high burden of snakebite envenoming, which is estimated to cause approximately 58,000 deaths annually. The collaborative effort seeks to produce high-quality implementation evidence to significantly reduce snakebite mortality and morbidity across the country.
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