Lok Sabha Question No. 842 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Tribal Culture
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## 842. SHRI B.B. PATIL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether there are any centres for tribal culture in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the Government schemes, programmes and initiatives to support the building and development of such centres;

(c) the steps being taken by the Government to conserve and promote tribal culture, archives and artefacts; and

(d) the details of the Government initiatives in Telangana, especially in Kamareddy district?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a)  to  (c): The tribal culture is community based and intricately linked to nature which is also reflected in their traditions, art, dances and beliefs.   Unlike modern dance and Indian classical dance  which  are  basically  theatre  dances  and   the  dancers  usually  being  highly  trained professionals performing for audiences in particular venues and on special occasions, the Tribal performances  on  the  other  hand,  are  natural,  participatory,  rhythmic  and  are  often  intimately related to the everyday life of the community.

The Ministry of Culture is the nodal Ministry for promotion of culture including tribal culture.  As informed by Ministry of Culture, To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk/ tribal art and culture including tribal culture in the country, the Government of India has set up  seven  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  (ZCCs)  with  headquarters  at  Patiala,  Nagpur,  Udaipur, Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur.  These  ZCCs  conduct  number  of  activities  viz. cultural  programmes,  seminars,  workshops,  exhibitions  and  craft  fairs  in  tribal  areas  for  the development  of  Tribals/STs.  For  these  activities,  tribal  artists  are  engaged  by  these  ZCCs  for which they are paid honorarium, TA/DA, boarding & lodging and local transportation to support them and to earn their livelihood.  Further, OCTAVE - a festival of the North East is organized by all the seven Zonal Cultural Centres to promote folk/ tribal culture of the North Eastern States and to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the North East.

2.        Ministry  of  Culture  operates  a  scheme  namely,  Museum  Grant  Scheme  under  which financial  assistance  is  provided  to  Central/State  Governments,  Autonomous  bodies,  Local bodies, Public Sector undertaking, Academic Institute and Trust registered as a society under the

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 842 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 12/12/2022

## TRIBAL CULTURE

Indian  Societies  Act  of  1860  (XXI)  or  a  similar  legislation  of  the  state  governments,  for establishment and development of museums.

3. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya  Manav  Sangrahalaya (IGRMS),  Bhopal, an  autonomous organization  under  the  Ministry  of  Culture,  has  taken  the  following  steps  to  conserve  and promote tribal culture, archives and artifacts:
- i)  It  has  developed  an  open  air  exhibition  titled  'Tribal  Habitat'  which  promotes  the  tribal architecture and traditional knowledge patterns through 46 house types and other exhibits.
3. ii) It has a number of tribal artifacts in its collection which are displayed in various galleries and preserved in reserve collection.
4. iii) IGRMS conducts the Tribal Literature Festival (TLF) annually by inviting resource persons from  different  places  of  India.  The  traditional  knowledge  systems  are  also  being  documented through fieldworks, demonstrative workshops and cultural performances.
4.       Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  the  schemes  of  'Support  to  Tribal  Research Institute'  and  'Tribal  Research,  Information,  Education,  Communication  and  Events'  under which various activities are undertaken to conserve and promote tribal culture, archives, artifacts, customs  and  traditions  of  the  tribal  communities.   There  are  27  Tribal  Research  Institutes  in states and National Tribal Research Institute in Delhi. Some of the initiatives worth mentioning are as under:
6. (i).   To  acknowledge  the  heroic  and  patriotic  deeds  of  tribal  people  and  to  exhibit  rich  tribal cultural heritage of the region, Ministry has sanctioned 10 Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum.
7. (ii). Ministry  has  developed  searchable digital  repository  where  all  research  papers,  books, reports  and  documents,  folks  songs,  photos/videos  are  uploaded.  The  repository  currently  has more  than  10,000  photographs,  videos  and  publications  which  are  mostly  done  by  Tribal Research  Institutes.  The  repositories  can  be  visited  at  https://repository.tribal.gov.in/  (Tribal Digital Document Repository) and https://tribal.nic.in/repository/ (Tribal Repository).
8. (iii).   Ministry gives funding to TRIFED for organizing Adi Mahotsav festival at National level and  State  level.   State  level  festivals  like  Hornbill  festival  of  Nagaland,  Medaram  Jatra  of Telangana are funded through TRI scheme.
9. (iv). TRIFED organizes Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) to identify new artisans and new products at the sourcing level in States/Districts/Villages for expanding the tribal producers base.
10. (v).       The Ethnographic Museum of the states preserve and showcase rare artifacts related to life and culture of various tribes.
11. (d): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  releasing  funds  to  States  under  centrally  sponsored  scheme Support to TRI based on their proposal. The Ministry has sanctioned a Tribal freedom Fighter Museum in the State of Telangana.
2.       Ministry of Culture has recently organized a National Festival namely Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) in Telangana at two places (Warangal and Hyderabad) from 29th March to 3rd April, 2022.
3.       As per Government of Telangana, the following steps have been taken by the Government of Telangana to conserve the tribal culture:
- a. Medaram biennial Tribal Jatara is being organized by the Telangana Government on grand level
- b. 66 tribal temples and tribal priests are covered under 'Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam' scheme of State Endowments Department
- c. Promoting to organize the tribal fairs & festivals
17.  Gond - Jangubai Jatara and Nagoba Jatara,
18.  Naikpod - Gandhari Jathara,
19.  Lambadi - Sevelal Jayanti,
20.  Chenchu - Bourapur Jathara,
21.  Yerukula - Nancharamma Jathara, Andh -Phulaji Baba Jayanti, Siral festival
22.  Kolams - Bheemanna Jatara
23.  Yerukulas - Nancharamma Jathara
- d. Steps have been taken to protect and promote indigenous artefacts.
25.  Needle Craft and Embroidery by Lambadis/Banjaras
26.  Ojha Craft by Gonds
27.  Wooden Miniature mask making by Naikpod
28.  Bamboo craft by Kondareddis
29.  Wood craft by Kolams and Koyas
- e. Predominantly Lambadis tribe inhabit Kamareddy district. Sevalal Jayanti is celebrated every year in the district to conserve their culture.
4.         Government  of  Telangana  has  further  informed  the  establishment  of  following  tribal museums / cultural hubs:
32.  Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum at Hyderabad.
33.  Kumram Bheem Memorial Museum at Jodenghat, KB Asifabad District.
34.  Sri Sammakka Saralamma Museum at Medaram, Mulugu District.
35.  Koya Tribal Museum at Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem District.
36.  Chenchu Laxmi Museum at Mannanur, Nagarkurnool District.
37.  Adivasi Bhawan and Banjara Bhawan at prime locality of Banjara Hills, Hyderabad with 1000 capacity auditoriums, Audio and Video facility, Photo Gallery, Art studios, Exhibition of Tribal Artefacts etc.

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