The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is extending financial support to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) across States and Union Territories to preserve, document, and promote tribal cultural heritage, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed the Rajya Sabha.
The support is being provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)’, which covers initiatives related to tribal art forms, languages, oral traditions, customary practices, and ethnographic research. The TRIs function under the administrative control of respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations and submit annual action plans with budgetary requirements through State Tribal Welfare Departments. Funds are sanctioned based on need and subject to approval by an Apex Committee chaired by the Secretary, Tribal Affairs.
According to the Ministry, financial assistance under the scheme is also extended to support research and documentation activities, training and capacity-building programmes, organisation of tribal festivals and yatras, exchange visits, and initiatives promoting tribal tourism and cultural dissemination, particularly in the North Eastern States.
During 2024-25, funds have been released to multiple States under the scheme. Telangana received ₹1,300 lakh, Chhattisgarh ₹1,100 lakh, Uttarakhand ₹793.86 lakh, Mizoram ₹723.14 lakh, Madhya Pradesh ₹600 lakh, Nagaland ₹600 lakh, and Odisha ₹600 lakh, among others. Several States including Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands reported no allocation during the year.
The Ministry also supports initiatives such as National Tribal Crafts Melas, Tribal Dance Festivals, literary festivals, documentation of oral literature, publication of books by tribal writers, and the establishment of ethnographic museums showcasing tribal artefacts, attire, ornaments, and traditional objects. Major festivals supported include Medaram Jathara (Telangana), Hornbill Festival (Nagaland), Sarhul Festival (Jharkhand), Lokotsav (Goa), and Pawl Kut (Mizoram).
The government stated that these measures aim to ensure systematic preservation and transmission of tribal cultural traditions while enabling community participation in heritage conservation and promotion.
