Lok Sabha Question No. 2583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Preservation and Promotion of Tribal Cultural Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Tapir Gao, Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2583

## ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF TRIBAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

## 2583. SHRI TAPIR GAO: SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  initiatives  undertaken  to  preserve,  document  and  promote  tribal heritage,  including  tribal  art  forms,  languages,  oral  traditions  and  customary  practices during the year 2025;
- (b) the details of the number of tribal communities, artists or cultural practitioners supported through various programmes of the Government and the nature of such support;
- (c) the details of the steps  taken  to  involve  tribal  communities  directly  in  heritage conservation,  exhibition  and  cultural  transmission,  including  linkages  created  through platforms such as the Tribal Business Conclave; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  institutional  support,  enhance  digital documentation, or establish dedicated cultural spaces for preservation and demonstration of India's tribal heritage and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) To preserve, document and promote various forms of folk art, tribal heritage including tribal art forms & oral traditions throughout 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. Annual grant-in-aid is released to these seven ZCCs  for  organizing  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  on  regular  basis  in  their member States.

To promote the tribal culture, various   festivals like Hornbill Festival, Octave, Tribal Dance  Festival,  Adi  Bimb,  Adi  Sapta  Pallav,  Adi  Lok  Rang,  Adiwasi  Mahotsav  etc.  are organized through Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) of Ministry of Culture to showcase unique forms  of  folk  dances,  songs,  cuisine,  exhibitions  and  demonstration  of  traditional  skill  in painting, art & craft etc.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India implements the schemes of 'Support to  Tribal  Research  Institutes  and  Tribal  Research,  Information,  Education,  Communication and  Events'  under  which  various  activities  are  undertaken  to  conserve  and  promote  tribal culture,  archives,  artefacts,  customs  and  traditions  of  the  tribal  communities.  Under  the Scheme  of  'Tribal  Research,  Information,  Education,  Communication  and  Events  (TRIECE)',  reputed  research  Institutes/  Organizations/  Universities  have  undertaken  various research studies/ publication of books/ documentation including audio visual documentaries etc.

Sahitya  Akademi  gives  Bhasha  Samman  every  year  to  scholars  working  in  tribal languages and oral traditions. Akademi has also created a special programs and centers for documentation  and  preservation  of  oral  and  tribal  literature,  Centre  for  Oral  and  Tribal Literature.  The  Akademi  has  also  established  a  North  East  Centre  for  Oral  Literature (NECOL) in Agartala to exclusively cater to languages belonging to oral tradition. The centre brings  out  related  publications  and  also  organizes  activities  and  programmes  in  these languages from time to time.

Sahitya Akademi under Ministry of Culture has instituted a Language Development Board which periodically organizes Language Conventions. Since the inception of the Board, conventions in Awadhi, Banjara, Bundeli, Chakma, Garhwali, Himachali, Kachchi, Kodava, Kumouni, Kurmali, Mising, Rajbansi, Saora, Warli, Rabha, Sadari, Kharia, Baigani, Korku, Kharia and Nyshi languages have been conducted.

The Akademi celebrates International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 th August  every  year  by  organizing  an  All-India  Tribal  Writers'  Meet  to  involve  tribal communities.

Through  its  project  named  Archives  of  Indian  Literature  the  Akademi  collects  and preserves precious material connected with writers and literature like manuscripts, photographs,  audio  recordings,  video  recordings  and  portraits,  etc.,  which  includes  tribal writers too.

(b) Artists  are  engaged  by  ZCCs  from  tribal  areas  to  showcase  their  talents  in  various cultural programmes/ activities organized by these ZCCs for which they are paid honorarium, DA/TA, boarding & lodging etc. 6476 communities/ artists/ cultural practitioners have been supported in this way during the year 2025.

(c) To  involve  tribal  communities  directly  in  heritage  conservation,  exhibition  and cultural  transmission,  all  the  ZCCs  organize  programmes  to  show  the  rich  and  vivid  tribal cultural heritage of their member States, conduct workshops to promote dying and vanishing art  forms  of  tribal  communities,  undertake  documentation  of  art  forms  including  tribal dances, paintings, music etc. Under Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme, the younger generation is imparted training relating to Indian tribal art forms.

Tribal costumes, musical instruments, daily use utensils, deities of tribal communities etc. are displayed by the ZCCs to give an idea of the tribal culture of the States to tourists and visitors.

(d) To safeguard and showcase  India's  tribal  heritage,  the  ZCCs  have  aptly  discharged their  responsibilities  of  preserving  and  propagating  our  folk  and  tribal  art  forms  -  dance, music,  art  and  performing  arts,  etc.  The  ZCCs  have  played  a  pivotal  role  to  preserve, document  and  disseminate  the  dynamics  of  our  folk  and  tribal  art  forms  amongst  the  new generation of enthusiasts and practitioners.

Further, Research & Documentation Scheme supports the preservation and promotion of  fading visual  and performing arts across disciplines like music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts. This initiative documents these traditions in both print and audiovisual formats, with the selection of art forms done in consultation with State Cultural Departments. These ZCCs are also involved in recording and documenting endangered folk/ tribal art forms as well as printing books, reports and stories related to folklore and oral history.

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