Tribal

Economic, social, political progress of tribals top priority: Odisha CM

CM Majhi said that until about 23 percent of the tribal population of the state is developed, the progress of the state is impossible

Govt set to roll out 'Adi Vaani', AI translator for tribal languages

The Tribal Affairs Ministry will soon launch "Adi Vaani", India's first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translator for tribal languages, in a move aimed at preserving the country's rich linguistic diversity and empowering tribal communities. Developed by IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad and IIIT Nava Raipur, in collaboration with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), the initiative combines advanced AI tools with community participation to bridge communication gaps and safeguard endangered tribal languages. The app will be available on the Play Store with an iOS version coming soon. It will initially support Santali (Odisha), Bhili (Madhya Pradesh), Mundari (Jharkhand) and Gondi (Chhattisgarh). Languages such as Kui and Garo will be added in the next phase. According to the Census 2011, Scheduled Tribes in India speak 461 languages and 71 distinct mother tongues. Of these, 81 are classified as vulnerable and 42 critically endangered. Many face extinction due to lack of ...

Rajasthan has taken steps for development of tribal regions: CM Sharma

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said on Saturday that the state government has taken various steps for the development of tribal regions in the state. "Farmers and tribals are the strong pillars of our society. The resolution taken to develop Rajasthan by the year 2047 will be realised only when the villages prosper, the farmers are happy and every tribal family gets respect, facilities and opportunities," he said. The chief minister was speaking at a farmers meeting in Banswara. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 20th instalment of PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi under a programme organised in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Saturday. Chief Minister Sharma was connected to this programme through video conferencing. An amount of Rs 1,600 crore has been transferred to the accounts of more than 76 lakh farmers of Rajasthan under the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, "The state government has taken various important steps for the development of the Vagad region."

Parl panel slams poor action on tribal women's health, child marriage data

A parliamentary panel has expressed dissatisfaction over the government's "lack of seriousness" to improve health facilities for tribal women, highlighting persistent challenges like inadequate data, poor implementation of malnutrition and anaemia reduction programmes, and slow progress in addressing child marriage. In its second report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the Committee on Empowerment of Women criticized the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for failing to take a proactive role in coordinating with other ministries to improve tribal health. The report reviews the government's response to recommendations made in a 2023 report on 'Health Facilities for Tribal Women'. The committee said it was concerned at the "lack of seriousness" in implementing tailor-made interventions for tribal women and children, especially regarding the generation and use of tribal-specific health data. Simply taking note of the committee's recommendations is not sufficient, the panel stated, urging th

A poll quest for Bihar's 'forgotten people': Contesting for the tribal vote

As the JMM weighs its options ahead of the Assembly polls, including contesting on its own, others chalk out plans to attract the elusive tribal voter

Received Rs 5,990 cr grants under SC, ST sub-plans in 3 years: J'khand govt

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Monday claimed that the state received Rs 5,990.6 crore in grants under sub-plans for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) over the past three years since 2021-22. He alleged that the central government had reduced funding under the SC and ST sub-plans over the past decade, and the grants allocated to the state were meagre in proportion to the population of tribal and Dalit communities in the state. "In Jharkhand, the SC population is 39 lakh and the ST population is 86 lakh. Between 2021-22 and 2023-24, the state received Rs 3,515.11 crore under the ST sub-plan and Rs 2,475.49 crore under the SC sub-plan," Kishore said while addressing the media at the Congress headquarters here. He added, "A mere Rs 5,990.6 crore has been received over three years, whereas the state should have received at least Rs 10,000 crore for the special component plans, proportional to the SC and ST population in the state." Kishore further ...

Shah pledges Rs 1 cr for Naxal-free villages at Bastar Pandoom 2025 finale

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended the closing ceremony, made several key announcements aimed at transforming the region's image and accelerating its development

States asked to map forests, create atlas for FRA implementation: Centre

The minister also informed that a total of 25,03,453 titles have been distributed so far since the implementation of the FRA began, while 7,45,649 claims are pending

Assam passes Bills allowing Guv to head autonomous councils if polls late

The Assam Assembly on Thursday passed amendment Bills related to seven autonomous councils, authorising the governor to take over the functioning of these bodies if holding of elections is found to be "impractical" even at the end of the mandated extended term of the elected committees. Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu, who introduced the Bills, said that there is a provision of extending the term of the elected councils running these bodies for a maximum of one year. "The problem will arise if elections cannot be held even after the end of the extended period. And hence, these amendment Bills have been brought," he said. The amendment Bills pertained to Mising Autonomous Council, Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council, Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council, Deori Autonomous Council, Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Tiwa Autonomous Council. The amendment states that if the governor is "satisfied that circumstances so exist which render holding

Budget 2025: Centre boosts Tribal ministry funding by 45%, focus on infra

The central government has increased the budget for the Union Tribal Ministry by over 45 per cent compared to the last year, allocating more funds to bridge infrastructure gaps in tribal-dominated areas across the country. For 2025-26, the ministry has been allocated Rs 14,925.81 crore, up from Rs 10,237.33 crore in 2024-25. Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which provide quality education to tribal students, will receive Rs 7,088.60 crore, up from Rs 4,748 crore last year. The budget for the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, which ensures year-round income-generating opportunities for tribals, has been increased from Rs 152 crore to Rs 380 crore. The government has allocated Rs 335.97 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY), compared to Rs 127.51 crore last year. Under PMAAGY, funds are provided to states and union territories with Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations to improve education, healthcare, agriculture, skill development and employment ...

Jharkhand polls: BJP washed out in tribal seats, JMM wins historic mandate

The only ST seat that saffron party could win was thanks to the turncoat former CM Champai Soren, who had quit JMM to join the BJP and won his Saraikella seat on a BJP ticket

Infiltrators marrying tribals won't get land, says Amit Shah in Jharkhand

Amit Shah, in poll-bound Jharkhand, vowed to curb infiltrators, protect tribal land, tackle corruption, and strengthen tribal welfare under BJP governance

Tribal issues come to the fore as poll battle heats up in Jharkhand

All but one CM have been members of ST communities. Still two-thirds of tribal-dominated districts have high levels of multidimensional poverty

Parties leave no stone unturned for tribal votes in Poonch, Rajouri

In Poonch and Rajouri districts, there are eight Assembly constituencies, among which five are reserved for the STs

Integration of Andaman tribals into mainstream sparks mixed reactions

The gradual integration of tribals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands into mainstream society has sparked mixed reactions with some experts expressing concern that it could lead to their exploitation by outsiders, while others believe it is essential for their survival, advocating for education to help them adapt to societal changes. This trend is primarily noticed among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) such as Shompens, Jarawas (Ang), Onges, and the Great Andamanese who live in their respective reserved dense forests where non-tribals are barred. A watershed moment took place on April 19, 2024, when Nauaaw and six other Shompens, including Jetuwai, Thuwaee, and Chemai, voted in the Lok Sabha elections for the first time, marking a significant milestone for their community. Shompens are predominantly uncontacted nomadic hunters, with a population of 244 on Nicobar Island. Nicobar Island is currently in the news due to the Rs 72,000-crore international transshipment project

2,100 tribal students to be trained in chip technology at IISc: Govt

The tribal affairs ministry in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, will provide basic training to 1,500 and advanced training to 600 tribal students in semiconductor technology over the next three years, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. In response to a question by BJP MP C M Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said his ministry has given the project -- Semiconductor Fabrication & Characterization Training for Students from Tribal Community -- to the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The project, which was given to the institute under the central sector scheme Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE) during the financial year 2023-24, aims to deliver 2,100 NSQF-certified level 6.0 and 6.5 training in semiconductor technology to tribal students over three years, he said. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the ...

Tripura: Shops torched after tribal youth injured in group clash dies

Several shops were torched and houses damaged in Tripura's Dhalai district following the death of a tribal youth in a group clash, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders, police said on Saturday. The 19-year-old college student, who sustained serious injuries in a clash between two groups at Gandatwisa in Dhalai district on July 7, passed away at GBP Hospital here on Friday. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the village after Friday's arson and Internet services have been suspended in the area. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the death of the youth, police said. According to police sources, Parmeshwar Reang, accompanied by his friends, had visited the Gandatwisa market to attend a fair organised on the occasion of Rath Yatra. "Suddenly, a clash erupted between two groups of youths, during which Reang sustained severe injuries. Initially admitted to Gandatwisa hospital, he was later transferred to GBP hospital as his condition worsened.

BJP leader Mohan Charan Majhi takes oath as Chief Minister of Odisha

Four-time MLA and tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi was on Wednesday sworn in as the first BJP chief minister of Odisha at a ceremony here attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers. Senior BJP leader and Patnagarh MLA KV Singh Deo and debutant from Nimapara assembly segment Pravati Parida took oath as deputy chief ministers. Governor Rabghubar Das administered the oath of secrecy and office to them at Janata Maidan. This is the first time that a BJP government has been formed in the eastern state. Apart from Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Bhupender Yadav, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, Ashwini Vaishnaw and others attended the ceremony. Several chief ministers of BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand were also present. Odisha's outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik also attended the ceremony. BJP for the first time got a

Madhya Pradesh's tribal-dominated districts to get organic certificate soon

Forest Minister Nagar Singh Chauhan has directed officials concerned to complete all formalities for same. This certification would help tribal communities obtain better prices for their produce

PM Modi to speak at gathering of tribal communities in MP's Jhabua

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak at a conference of tribal communities and inaugurate or lay foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district on Sunday, officials said. Tribals from across the country will take part in the congregation at Gopalpura, state BJP media cell chief Ashish Agrawal told PTI. This will be Modi's first visit to the state this year, coming ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Among the states, Madhya Pradesh has the highest six Lok Sabha seats reserved for tribals. During his visit, the prime minister will also disburse monthly installments to some two lakh women beneficiaries under the Aahar Anudan Yojana of the state, an official release said. Under the scheme, Rs 1,500 per month are provided for nutritious food to women from especially backward tribes. The PM will also distribute 1.75 lakh 'adhikar abhilekh' (record of land rights) under the SVAMITVA scheme. He will lay the foundation stone of Tantya