Lok Sabha Question No. 1814 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Preserve Language, Culture and Customs
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1814

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 31/07/2023

## PRESERVE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND CUSTOMS

## 1814.  SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any efforts are being made to preserve the language, culture and customs of the ancient and traditional tribal and forest dwellers, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the regular platforms and programmes available for conservation through its publicity; and
- (c) whether any separate programmes are organized for the prosperity heritage of forest dwellers, if so, the details thereof and if not the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken various steps to preserve the language, culture and customs of the ancient and traditional tribals including tribal forest dwellers. Ministry 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 language, tribal culture, archives,  artifacts,  customs and traditions of the  ancient and traditional tribals  including  forest dwellers. There are 27 Tribal Research Institutes in States/UTs. Some of the initiatives worth mentioning are as under:
- (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 Museums under the centrally sponsored scheme 'Support to TRIs" Scheme.
- (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).
- (iii) State level festivals like Hornbill festival of Nagaland, Medaram Jatra of Telangana are funded through TRI scheme. State Tribal festival, fair and cultural programmes are funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) to showcase glimpses of rich cultural heritage of tribal people across the country through unique forms of folk dances, songs, cuisine, exhibition and demonstration of traditional skill in painting, art and craft, medicinal practices, etc.

(iv) TRIFED organizes Adi Mahotsav (a national level tribal festival of arts, crafts, cuisine and marketing of tribal products) as well as Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (the PMJVM) scheme.  The latter aims at identification of new artisans and  new  products  at  the  sourcing  level  in  States/Districts/Villages  for  expanding  the  tribal producers base.

(v)  Ministry  provides  grants  to  State  Tribal  Research  Institutes  for  promotion  of  Tribal Languages,  dialects  and  scripts,  development  of  primers  and  dictionaries,  documentation  of folklores  and  folktales.  Organisation  of  literary  festival,  translation  works  and  literature competition, capacity building in aspects of tribal affairs and organisation of cultural programmes based on the proposal received from the Tribal Institutes.

(vi) Under 'Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE)', reputed research institutes/organizations/universities have undertaken various research studies/publication of books/documentation including audio visual documentaries to fill the gap of research studies on tribal issues and Promotion of rich tribal cultural, traditions and customs as  well  as capacity  building  of  tribal persons/institutions  associated  with  tribal  affairs, dissemination of information and creation of awareness. Under the scheme financial assistance is also  provided  to  reputed  organization  for  carrying  out  research  study  programmes  including documentation of tribal languages.

(vii) Further, there are adequate  constitutional and  statutory safeguards for protection, preservation,  conservation  and  promotion  of  tribal  culture,  traditions  and  customs.  The  Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the establishment of Tribal Advisory Councils in States with Scheduled Areas. Further, it provides for Special Powers of the Governor in such States. The  Panchayat  (Extension  to  Scheduled  Areas)  Act,  1996  similarly  provides  for  extensive authority  of  the  Gram  Sabhas/Gram  Panchayats  to  safeguard  and  preserve  the  traditions  and customs  and  their  cultural  identity.  The  Sixth  Schedule,  applicable  in  the  States  of  Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, empowers the District and Regional Councils in matters of social customs. The schemes of Support to TRI and TRI-ECE mentioned herein before and the activities taken up there under also contribute significantly toward the preservation and promotion of tribal culture, traditions and customs

(viii) The Ministry of Culture, Government of India is the nodal Ministry for promotion of culture including  tribal  culture.  M/o  Culture  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 on regular basis in their member States for which annual grant-in-aid is released to them. Craft fairs, Summer festivals in association with TRIFED, Tribal fairs, National Tribal Festivals,  Shilpgram  Utsav,  Lokotsav,  Nareli  Purnima,  Merger  Day  Program,  Baneswar Mela,  Rashtriya Shilp Melas and Tribal Music & Dance Festival are organized by these ZCCs to  promote  artefacts  made  by  tribal  artists.  Tribal  costumes,  musical  instruments,  daily  use utensils and deities of tribal communities have been displayed by Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata which gives an idea to the tourists and visitors about the tribal culture of these States.

(ix)  As  informed  by  Ministry  of  Education,  the  National  Education  Policy,  2020  focuses  on promotion of all Indian Languages including regional languages. The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as Scheme for protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL). Under this scheme, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore works on protection, preservation and documentation of all the mother tongues/languages of India spoken by less than 10,000 people.

Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, there are provisions to recognize traditional rights customarily enjoyed by forest dwellers and for empowerment of Gram Sabha and village level institutions where there are holders of forest rights, to preserve their cultural and natural heritage.

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