Lok Sabha Question No. 6375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Promotion of Tribal Cultural Heritage in Odisha
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 6375

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 02/04/2026

## PROMOTION OF TRIBAL CULTURAL HERITAGE IN ODISHA

## 6375. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

## Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of tribal museums established/upgraded since 2019 in Odisha along with their location and current status;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned,  released  and  utilised  for  tribal  museums/interpretation centres in Odisha during the last five years, year and project-wise;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  Government  supported  cultural/tourism  projects  in  Koraput-Rayagada, including  Deomali  Hills,  such  as  museums,  interpretation  centres,  craft  haats  along  with  the current status thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps to document and promote tribal Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and crafts in Southern Odisha, project-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a): No tribal museum is established in Odisha since 2019 under the scheme 'Support to TRIs'. However, the Ministry has been providing financial assistance to TRI, Odisha under the scheme 'Support to TRIs' from time to time as per the need raised by the TRI, Odisha for the maintenance and management of the Odisha State Tribal Museum. The said tribal museum in Odisha has been functioning  at  CRPF  Square,  Bhubaneswar  since  the  year  2001.  Details  of  approved  projects/ activities and funds released to TRI, Odisha may be accessed at https://tribal.nic.in/Display\_Apex\_Minutes.aspx.

It  may  be  mentioned  that  TRI  &  Media  Division,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  administers  the Centrally Sponsored scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)'. Under the scheme, the Ministry  extends  financial  support  to  29  Tribal  Research  Institutes  (TRIs)  in  States/Union Territories (UTs), including TRI, Odisha, 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 to strengthen  their infrastructural needs, including setting up of Tribal Museum/ Memorials  including  virtual  museums,  research  &  documentation  activities  and  training  & capacity  building  programmes,  organization  of  tribal  festivals  yatras  for  promotion  of  unique cultural heritage and for promoting tourism and organisation of exchange visits by tribals etc, so that the tribal culture practices, languages and rituals are preserved and disseminated. The scheme 'Support to TRIs' is a demand driven scheme where State/UT TRIs submitted projects/proposals to the Ministry as per their need basis. TRIs are primarily institutions under the administrative control of the State Government/UT Administration.

(b): Details of fund sanctioned, released and utilised for tribal museums/interpretation centres in Odisha as per the proposal received from the TRI, Odisha during the last five years is given at Annexure- I .

(c): Nil.

(d): The  SCSTRTI  (TRI,  Odisha)  conducts  various  empirical  research,  ethnographic  studies, action research on cultural aspects of tribals of Odisha. SCSTRTI also captures the cultural aspects of  tribes  of  Odisha  through  audio-video  documentation.  The  Odisha  State  Tribal  Museum (OSTM), located inside the premises of SCSTRTI preserves and promotes various aspects of tribal culture and customs. Further, the institute organises different events for promotion of tribal culture from  time  to  time  such  as  National  Tribal  Crafts  Mela,  National  Tribal  Dance  Mela,  Live Demonstration  of  Tribal  Art  &  Crafts  by  Tribal  Artisans  inside  the  Museum,  State  level  Art Competition among tribal Students, Essay Competition on tribal life and culture among the tribal school children, Workshop-cum-Exhibition on Tribal Paintings and State Level Tribal Poet Meet, etc.

Further, Government of Odisha has established the Special Development Council (SDC) in 2017. The SDC is functioning in 23 districts covering 172 blocks of Odisha with an objective to protect and  promote  the  culture  and  heritage  of  tribal  communities.  The  council  has  undertaken  the following initiatives for preservation and promotion of tribal culture in Odisha:

- i. Conservation of tribal culture aligned with development objectives through restoration, conservation and development of cultural  aspects for ensuring tribal cultural identity including shrine crafts, sacred groves, music, arts, sports etc.
- ii. Recognition of the indigenous knowledge system of the tribal and its promotion to help support retention of tribal culture.
- iii. Documentation of tangible and intangible tribal culture, tradition and practices.
- iv. Identification of tribal resources and making the indigenous knowledge/unique culture as a means of livelihood.
- v. Exposure visits or tribal people to different places of cultural, historical and developmental significance.
- vi. Promotion  of  tribal  languages  and  dialects  for  developmental  communication  through publication of bilingual dictionaries and tri-lingual proficiency modules.

Besides, the Government of Odisha has established the Academy of Tribal Languages and Culture (ATLC), Bhubaneswar which is functioning as a centre for preservation and promotion of tribal languages and culture in Odisha. It is an autonomous body under the administrative control of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Govt. of Odisha. ATLC takes the following initiatives for conservation and promotion the tribal culture in Odisha:

- i. Organises the Annual Adivasi Mela for promotion of tribal culture.
- ii. Conducts periodical research on tribal folklores.
- iii. Publishes Books on Tribal Language & Culture. Published bi-lingual dictionaries and trilingual proficiency modules in 21 tribal languages of Odisha.
- iv. Felicitates  the  Tribal  Talents  who  have  expertise  in  various  fields  such  as  language, literature, culture, art, arts, sports, social service, indigenous medicines, dance, music and drama etc.
- v. Developed audio-video documents on tribal festivals and dances
- vi. Sponsored tribal dance troupes to perform tribal dances in different National, State as well as  District  Level  Festivals/  Mahotsav  for  promotion  and  continuance  of  tribal  cultural heritage.

## ANNEXURE- I

| FY      | Project                                                                                                                                                     | Funds S anction ed (in lakh s)   | Funds Releas ed (in lak hs)   | Funds Utilise d (in lak hs)   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2025-26 | Nil                                                                                                                                                         | Nil                              | Nil                           | Nil                           |
| 2024-25 | Workshop-cum Capacity Building Training on LanjiaSaora Paintin g (Idital) for Lanjiasaora youth of Odisha                                                   | 9.29                             | 9.29                          | 9.29                          |
| 2023-24 | Live Demonstration of tribal Art and Crafts by Tribal Artists in the Museum Premises                                                                        | 45.00                            | 45.00                         | 15.96                         |
| 2023-24 | Annual Insurance of artefacts and equipment of tribal Museum                                                                                                | 3.00                             | 3.00                          | 0.21                          |
| 2022-23 | Live Demonstration of tribal Craft and Arts in the Museum Premis es                                                                                         | 40.00                            | 40.00                         | 40.00                         |
| 2022-23 | Audio-Video Content Development on Tribal Culture of selected c ulturally vibrant communities of Odisha for display in virtual mode in KIOSKS of the Museum | 80.00                            | 80.00                         | 80.00                         |
| 2022-23 | Maintenance of the Museum including the upgradation and replace ment of interactive gadgets                                                                 | 30.00                            | 30.00                         | 17.27                         |
| 2021-22 | Nil                                                                                                                                                         | Nil                              | Nil                           | Nil                           |

*****