Lok Sabha Question No. 862 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Preserving Tribal Cultural Heritage
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 862

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## PRESERVING TRIBAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

## 862.  ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any new initiatives are underway to document and preserve intangible tribal cultural heritage and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  number  of  tribal  communities  whose  musical,  oral  or  craft  traditions  have  been  recorded  under  the NISHTHA programme;
- (c) whether these cultural elements are being integrated into museum exhibits or digital platforms and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  details  of  financial  support  provided  to  tribal  artists  for  the  preservation  and  performance  of  their heritage; and
- (e)  whether any national-level consultation has been held with tribal communities regarding monetising their heritage through tourism and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a): Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)' extends financial support to 29 Tribal Research  Institutes (TRIs) in States/Union Territories (UTs) on the basis of the Annual Action Plan submitted by the States/UTs subject to the approval of the Apex Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under the scheme, proposals relating to, inter-alia research & documentation activities and training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal festivals, yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage and tourism and organisation of exchange visits by tribals  are  organised  so  that  their  cultural  practices,  languages  and  ritual  are  preserved  and  disseminated. TRIs are primarily institutions under the administrative control of the State Government/UT Administration. Under the scheme, some of the initiatives to document and preserve intangible tribal cultural are as under:

1. Research  studies/documentation  including  audio  visual  documentaries  for  promotion  of  rich  tribal cultural heritage which includes preservation of tribal languages.
2. Research  and  documentation  of  Indigenous  practices  by  tribal  healers  and  medicinal  plants,  Adivasi Languages,  agriculture  system,  dances  and  paintings,  organization  of  literary  festivals,  publication  of books  written  by  tribal  writers/  authors,  translation  works  and  literature  competitions,  etc.  Preparing Bilingual  Dictionaries,  Trilingual  Proficiency  Modules,  Primers  for  students  of  Class  I  to  V  in  tribal languages under Multi-Lingual Education (MLE) Intervention in the line of New Education Policy 2020.

Publishing  Varnamala,  local  rhymes,  and  stories  in  tribal  languages.  Publishing  books,  journals  on different tribal languages to promote tribal literature. Documenting folklore, and folktales of different tribes for preservation and promotion of tribal folk tradition. Collecting oral literature (songs, riddles, ballads etc.)

3. Government of India has also declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour all the tribal freedom fighters to remember and acknowledge their contribution to the freedom struggle and cultural heritage, and to  re-energize the efforts for the socio-economic development of the tribal regions. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with other central ministries, state governments, and other institutions are celebrating the glorious history of its tribal people, culture, and achievements since 2021. Further, the  Government  of  India  is  commemorating  Jan  Jatiya  Gaurav  Varsh  (JJGV)  on  the  occasion  of  the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, with the objective of celebrating the contributions, culture, and heritage of tribal communities across the nation.
2. (b) & (c): Ministry of Tribal Affairs does not run the NISHTHA programme. However, cultural elements are being integrated into tribal museum exhibits or digital platforms, wherever provisioned.
3. (d):   Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  per  se  does  not  provide  financial  support  directly  to  tribal  artists  for  the preservation and performance of their heritage However, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institute(s)', the Ministry extends financial support to Tribal Research Institute(s) of the States /  UTs,  Tribal  Research  Institutes  in  organizing  different  cultural  events  like  National  Tribal  Craft  Mela, National/State Tribal Festivals, Art Competition, Workshop - cum - Exhibition on Tribal paintings, State-level tribal  poet  and  writers  meet  etc.,  with  an  objective  to  promoting  and  preserving  the  cultural  heritage  of  the tribals. Tribal artists participate in these events and showcase their rich cultural heritage through varied cultural performances.

(e): No. However, states manage the Tribal Museums and interact with the tribal communities to promote their culture and heritage.

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