Lok Sabha Question No. 5510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Preservation of Tribal Culture
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

5510.  Smt. Malvika Devi:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that tribal culture and festivals are preserved;
- (b) whether there is any programme that encourages tribal communities to showcase their culture, languages and products and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of times in a year the said programmes are organized to promote tribal culture and languages among the general public; and
- (d) the incentives or schemes introduced to support tribal communities in preserving and promoting their cultural heritage?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a) to (d): 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  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.  TRIs  are  primarily  institutions  under  the  administrative  control  of  the  State Government/UT Administration. Under the scheme, following activities have been undertaken for the preservation of tribal culture:
1. Ministry  has  sanctioned  11  Tribal  Freedom  Fighters  Museums  in  10  states  to acknowledge the heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people and to exhibit rich tribal cultural heritage of  the  region.  Other  than  these,  Ethnographic  Museum  are  also  sanctioned  to  showcase  rare artefacts, dresses, ornaments, weapons etc related to life and culture of various tribes.
2. Tribal Research Institutes organise different events like National Tribal Craft Mela, National/State  Tribal  Dance  Festival,  Art  Competition,  Workshop  -  cum  -  Exhibition  on  Tribal paintings and state-level tribal poet and writers meet. Further Ministry provides  funds to organize tribal fairs & festivals, festivals like "Medaram Jathara" undertaken by the Koya Tribe of Telangana, Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Sarhul Festival of Jharkhand, Lokotsav of Goa and Pawl Kut festival of Mizoram, etc.
3. Research studies/publication of books/documentation including audio visual documentaries for promotion of rich tribal cultural heritage which includes preservation of tribal languages.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5510

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2025

## PRESERVATION OF TRIBAL CULTURE

4. 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, II and III 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.)
5. Ministry  has developed a searchable digital repository where all research papers, books, reports and documents, folks' songs, photos/videos are uploaded. The repositories can be visited at https://repository.tribal.gov.in/ (Tribal Digital Document Repository)
6. Government  of  India  has  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.
7. Development  of  bilingual  Primers  for  the  preservation  of  tribal  languages  and enhancement of learning achievement levels amongst the Scheduled Tribe Students. Many language primers have been developed by various State Governments.
8. Tribal cultural exchange programmes including tribal women SHGs
9. TRIFED also  organizes Adi Mahotsav festival at National level and State level and 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.

Moreover, the Ministry of Culture is the nodal Ministry for the promotion of culture including tribal culture as part of its larger mandate for protection and preservation of India's diverse culture. To protect,  promote  and  preserve  various  forms  of  folk  art  and  culture  including  tribal  culture thourghout the coutry, the Ministry of Culture has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) in the  country  during  1985-86  with  headquarters  at  Patiala,  Nagpur,  Udaipur,  Prayagraj,  Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. Various festivals like Hornbill Festival, Octave, Tribal Dance Festival, Adi Bimb, Adi Sapta Pallav, Adi Lok Rang, Adiwasi Mahotsav, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs etc. are organised thorugh Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) of Ministry of Culture to promote & preserve the tribal culture.

Further,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  'Pradhan  Mantri  Janjatiya  Vikas  Mission' (PMJVM) scheme through TRIFED to preserve and promote tribal art, culture and handicrafts and for socio-economic development of tribal communities across the country. TRIFED organizes 'Aadi Mahotsav' annually at Delhi to showcase tribal products at the national level. TRIFED undertakes retail marketing of tribal products through its TRIBES India Outlets & E-Commerce platforms. It also organizes Exhibitions like Aadi Bazaar, Aadi Chitra etc at various parts of the country. Further, under  the  scheme  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Janjatiya  Vikas  Mission  (PMJVM),  TRIFED  undertakes empanelment of tribal artisan and procurement of various tribal products from them for generating livelihood opportunities for tribal communities.

Furthermore, Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Central Sector Scheme 'Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE)' which aims at promotion of rich tribal  cultural  heritage,  dissemination  of  information  and  creation  of  awareness,  including organization of tribal craft & food festivals, sports, music, dance & photo competitions, science, art & craft expos, workshops, seminars, production of documentary films by the Ministry & States, bringing  out  publications  highlighting  significant  studies,  documenting  historical  facets  of  tribal communities, achievements of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) & State Departments besides other necessary publicity at regular intervals.

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