(a) the details of the policy being implemented to protect and preserve the tribal art and culture of the country;
(b) the steps taken to boost/encourage the persons involved in the business of tribal arts;
(c) the provision of funds to be made for the year 2005-06 thereto;
(d) whether the Government proposes to recognize local languages of tribals; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
(SHRI P. R. KYNDIAH) :
(a) to (e) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
`Research and Training - Grants-in-aid to Tribal Research Institute`, are providing funds
to the State Governments on 50:50 sharing basis between State and Centre. At present, 14
State TribalInstitutes set up by the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Gujarat,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Rajasihan, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal are receiving Central grants on 50:50 basis. These Institutes are
engaged in the work oF providing planning inputs to the State Governments, conducting research
and evaluation studies and collection of data, conduct of trainings, seminars and workshops,
codification of customary laws, setting up of a tribal museum for exhibiting tribal artifacts
and promotion of tribal culture. A provision of Rs.2.60 crore has been kept under the scheme
for the year 2005-06.The Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture also implement
a scheme of `Promotion and Dissemination of Tribal/Folk Art and Culture` under which a
provision of Rs.1.70 crore has been kept for the year 2005-06, The documentation of tribal
languages is an ongoing process. The State Governments having Tribal Research Institutes have
been requested to document tribal languages through these Institutes and other States/Union
Territories have been requested to document tribal languages through other institutions like
Universities, etc. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs have produced a number of films on Tribal
Communities which are being shown on a regular basis on Doordarshan. These films, inter-alia,
document the unique culture of these communities.