Bhubaneswar, April 4: No tribal museum is established in Odisha since 2019 under the scheme ‘Support to TRIs’. The Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey on Thursday informed Lok Sabha that, however, the Ministry has been providing financial assistance to TRI (Tribal Research Institute), 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,” said the Union Minister.
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, said the Minister.
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.
A total of Rs 207. 27 lakh of central fund has been sanctioned for tribal museums/interpretation centres in Odisha during the last five years.
The Schedueled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) 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, added the Minister.
The Minister informed the Lower House that, "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."
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, added Minister Uikey
