Lok Sabha Question No. 1408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Preservation and Promotion of Tribal Cultural Heritage
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Dr. D. Purandeswari, Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Smt. D K Aruna

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1408

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF TRIBAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

1408 : DR. D. PURANDESWARI: SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY: SMT. D K ARUNA: SHRI EATALA RAJENDER

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state

- (a) the details of initiatives taken/being taken by the Government to promote tribal culture and heritage during the last three years;
- (b) the details of total number of conferences, cultural programs and exhibitions organized along with their geographical  distribution in the country, State-wise, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar;
- (c) whether any conference has been organised by the Government alongwith other organisations including NGOs, to document the linguistic resources of the tribes, especially the tribal languages spoken in various States and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (d) the budgetary allocation for promoting tribal culture for the current fiscal year and the funds utilized thereon so far; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  impact  of  these  initiatives  on  preserving  and  promoting  tribal  heritage, especially in tribal dominated areas during the last ten years?

## 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)' provides 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  infrastructural needs,  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. Ministry has sanctioned various projects to the Tribal Research Institutes of the States/UTs towards activities for the socio-cultural, educational, and economic development of the tribal communities. TRIs are primarily institutions under the State

Government/UT  Administration. The activities undertaken by TRIs  to benefit the tribal communities are mentioned 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  11  Tribal Freedom  Fighters Museums.

(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  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.

(v) The Ethnographic Museum of the states preserve and showcase rare artefacts related to life and culture of various tribes.

(vi)  The  Ministry  also  provide  financial  assistance  under  the  scheme  'Tribal  Research, Information,  Education,  Communication  and Events  (TRI-ECE)',  to  reputed  research institutes/  organizations/  universities  to  undertake  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.

(b)   Under  the  scheme  of  Support  to  TRIs, Ministry  has  sanctioned  various  projects/  activities wherein 100% funding is provided by the Central Government on the proposal submitted by States. The details of total number of Conferences, Cultural Programme and exhibitions sanctioned under the  Support  to  Tribal  Research  Institutes  scheme  may  be  viewed  at  Ministry's  website https://tribal.gov.in/Display\_Apex\_Minutes.aspx .

(c)   Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  extends support  to  State  Governments/UTs  Tribal  Research Institutes  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  scheme  'Support  to  Tribal  Research  Institute(s)'  for development of bilingual Primers for preservation of tribal languages and enhancement of learning achievements  level  amongst  the  Scheduled  Tribes  students.  States/UTs  TRIs  are  conducting documentation and preservation of endangered tribal languages through preparation of primers, dictionaries and organization of cultural programmes. Further, under the scheme "Tribal Research, Information,  Education,  Communication  and  Events  (TRI-ECE)",  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs provides financial assistance to reputed Institutions for carrying out research study programmes including documentation of tribal languages. In this regard, Ministry had sanctioned projects to Bhasha Research and Publication Centre during 2018-19 and 2019-20 which inter-alia covered  activity of identification  and  documentation  of  threatened/dying  languages.  The organization had carried out documentation of Korku, Nihali, Kolami, Vadi, Halpati, Dungra Bhili, Dhavadi, Dhatti, Thali, Nahal and Seheriya languages.

(d)   The budgetary allocation for promoting tribal culture for the current fiscal year and the funds sanctioned may be viewed at Ministry's website https://tribal.gov.in/Display\_Apex\_Minutes.aspx .

(e)   The initiatives  preserve the heritage, customs, culture and traditions of the tribal communities for  the  future  generations.  Further,  through  these  projects  and  activities,  tribal  communities participate in conferences, seminars, workshops, and exchange programs to abreast themselves about the various welfare and development schemes/activities of the Government/Organization facilitating socio-economic improvement/betterment in the life of the tribal communities.

Teachers from Government Ashram Schools along with language experts from respective communities  are  associated  in  developing  the  dictionaries  and  primers  in  tribal  dialects  and language, which not only preserves and conserve the tribal languages but also help tribal students in their education by facilitating basic learning in their own language/dialect from class I to III and help in smooth transition when they go to higher classes. More than 200 primers and dictionaries have been developed in different tribal languages by Tribal Research Institute(s) to support and encourage multilingual education among tribal communities.

Through the State Tribal Festivals, fair and cultural programmes, Tribal Artisan Melas and Aadi  Mahotsav  etc.  new  artisans  and  products  have  been  identified  and  promoted  enabling commercial recognition and at the same time generating income to the tribals, enhancing their livelihoods  in  States/District/Village  level.  Organising  state  tribal  festivals,  fairs,  and cultural programs  to showcase  glimpses  of  the  rich  cultural  heritage  of  tribal  people  across  the country through unique forms of folk dances, songs, cuisine, exhibitions, and demonstration of traditional skills in painting, art, and craft, medicinal practices, etc. All these activities have not only contributed to the preservation, protection and promotion of tribal cultural heritage but also provide unity and fraternity among the tribal communities.

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