Tribal Affairs Ministry, IGNCA sign pact to preserve tribal cultural heritage
The partnership will document endangered languages and living traditions, develop digital archives and museum galleries, and expand platforms for tribal artists and traditional knowledge holders.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi on September 28, according to a Ministry of Tribal Affairs statement on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) have signed an agreement to preserve, document, digitise and promote India’s tribal cultural heritage, with a focus on endangered languages, indigenous arts and living traditions.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi on September 28, according to a Ministry of Tribal Affairs statement on Tuesday. It brings together the ministry’s network of Tribal Research Institutes and IGNCA’s expertise in research, archives and museum curation.
The collaboration will cover tribal music, musical instruments, crafts, cuisines, folklore, oral traditions, customary practices and traditional ecological knowledge. It will support the identification and documentation of cultural traditions at risk of disappearing, alongside their publication and wider dissemination.
Dedicated galleries and digital museums are planned to showcase tribal arts and artefacts, including the contributions of tribal communities to India’s freedom struggle. Youth camps at educational institutions and other learning centres will promote awareness of tribal cultures and sustainable conservation practices.
Tribal Affairs Secretary Ranjana Chopra said the partnership would contribute to tribal empowerment and strengthen recognition of the country’s diverse tribal traditions.
IGNCA’s Head of Department, K. Anil Kumar, said the collaboration would support digital archives and interactive tribal museum galleries.
The agreement also envisages exhibitions, publications, cultural festivals and digital platforms to expand visibility for tribal scholars, artists, artisans, performers and traditional knowledge holders in India and abroad.
