The government carried out a pilot in Jharkhand and in August it will start documentation in Chhattisgarh. The project will be extended to other states covered by the fifth institute schedule, such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana – on approximately 350 recognized tribes (STS).
The aim is to help tribes to deduce economic value through the marking of geographical indications (GI) and the interconnection of the domestic and global markets, Bharadwaj added.
The GI brand offers legal guarantees against false products by protecting the unique identity, quality and reputation of products associated with certain geographical places.
The project also records its environmental knowledge, crafts, games, festivals, rituals, kitchens, drinks, folk stories, motifs, agricultural practices, institutions, monuments, artifacts, herbal drugs and traditional clothing.
The government can incorporate this documentation into the creation of policies that will help tribes to achieve social and economic uprising, said the volunteer associated with the project on the condition of anonymity.
“The Panchayats Law (expanding to the planned areas) of 1996, also known as a pesa, authorizes the grandstand communities to preserve their culture and inheritance. Today, this heritage is lost due to the winds of changes in the tribal areas.
Bharadwaj added that the central government is already conducting a pilot project – from January 26 – in Jharkhand under the Hamari Parampar initiative, Hamari Virasat (our tradition, our heritage).
Cultural protection
The government will start efforts to document in Chhattisgarh – a rich diversity of tribal communities, many of which have unique traditions, languages and lifestyles – in August.
Approximately 30% of the total population of the state 25.5 million, according to the census in 2011, is STS, which makes it one of the most tribal states in India. There are about 42 recognized strains in the state, widely divided into main tribes and smaller tribes. Popular tribes are Gond, Baiga, Maria, Halba, Oraon and Munda.
With more than 5,000 Gram Panchayats, Chhattisgarh has great potential to become a model in documenting and maintaining a rich tribal heritage of India, Bharadwaj explained.
The government will also develop the most modern portal of the central heritage for documentation, archive and dissemination of tribal cultural data. This would offer a comprehensive database accessible to scientists, creators of creators and the public.
“This initiative will lead a long way to promote the crafts of the tribal community. We are currently launching about half a dozen of tribal communities based in Chhattisgarh via retail sockets in India,” said Prime Minister Khadane, Regional Manager, Chhattisgarh Regional Office of the Tribal Federation for Matrum.
“We feel that many products and herbal drugs can be patented after documentation. Folk songs can also be protected by copyrights to help communities gain economic and cultural advantages,” said Vijay Kuzur, social activist and Hamari Paampara, Hamari Virasat program.
In addition, the documentation helps in mapping the area, so in case of any displacement the tribes would be entitled to the appropriate replacement.
Efforts assume significance because India has lost, or, according to experts, on the verge of losing many tribes and tribal languages for modernization.
“For example, Ghotul practice – the Cultural Academy, where tribal youth is shaped into the administrators of its heritage, trained in values, art and communal life under the leadership of the elders – passes between Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh’s Gond and Muria’s Communits.” Rashra Rashra Mein Mehera, whom rashra mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein mein. Aadiwasi (tribes in building a nation).
(Tagstotranslate) Indian tribes
