Delhi: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, under its 'Support to TRIs scheme,' is actively promoting the preservation and promotion of tribal languages and dialects.

The initiative provides financial support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in various States and Union Territories for projects focused on language preservation.

Key projects under this scheme include the preparation of bilingual dictionaries and trilingual proficiency modules in tribal languages, as well as primers for students in classes I to III, in line with the New Education Policy 2020.

These primers, alongside publications like Varnamala, local rhymes, and stories, aim to foster early learning in tribal languages, ensuring a smoother transition for students as they progress to higher classes.

The Ministry is also committed to preserving tribal folklore and oral literature, including songs, riddles, and ballads. Translation and publication of training modules for sickle cell anemia awareness in local tribal dialects are part of this comprehensive effort.

Additionally, TRIs are organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and poetic symposiums to engage tribal communities and educators in these preservation efforts.

In line with the New Education Policy's emphasis on the importance of mother tongue learning, the Central and State Governments are promoting a multilingual education policy.

The Ministry of Education, through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, has been documenting endangered languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers since 2013 under the 'Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL).'

The budget allocation for the 'Support to TRI' scheme over the last three years has been robust, with ₹120 crore allocated for 2021-22, ₹121 crore for 2022-23, and ₹118.64 crore for 2023-24.

Details of sanctioned projects can be accessed on the Ministry's website (tribal.nic.in).

Additionally, under the 'Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE)' scheme, funds are allocated to reputed institutions for research, documentation of tribal languages, and the development of AI-based translation tools. Notably, the Bhasha Research and Publication Centre in Vadodara received ₹58.70 lakh for the study and documentation of Adivasi languages, culture, and life skills in FY 2019-20. For FY 2024-25, BITS Pilani, in collaboration with a consortium of IITs and Bhashini, has been sanctioned ₹3.122 crore to develop an AI-based translation tool for tribal languages.

This information was provided by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Uikey, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.