Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey today informed in Lok Sabha that 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.

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. Recognition of the indigenous knowledge system of the tribal and its promotion to help support retention of tribal culture.
3. Documentation of tangible and intangible tribal culture, tradition and practices.
4. Identification of tribal resources and making the indigenous knowledge/unique culture as a means of livelihood.
5. Exposure visits or tribal people to different places of cultural, historical and developmental significance.
6. 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:

1. Organises the Annual Adivasi Mela for promotion of tribal culture.
2. Conducts periodical research on tribal folklores.
3. Publishes Books on Tribal Language & Culture. Published bi-lingual dictionaries and tri-lingual proficiency modules in 21 tribal languages of Odisha.
4. 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.
5. Developed audio-video documents on tribal festivals and dances
6. 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

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