Bhubaneswar: The two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), jointly organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Government of Odisha, concluded in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, a national framework aimed at transforming Tribal Research Institutes into centres of excellence for research, knowledge generation, cultural preservation and evidence-based policymaking.
The workshop brought together nearly 200 participants, including representatives from Tribal Research Institutes, State Tribal Welfare Departments, academic and research institutions, technology organisations, industry, development partners and civil society organisations to deliberate on strengthening India’s tribal research ecosystem in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The declaration outlines a comprehensive roadmap for institutional reforms, adoption of the Model TRI Framework 2030, formulation of a National TRI Research Agenda for 2027-2032, greater integration of technology, preservation of tribal languages and indigenous knowledge systems, enhanced research standards, performance-based institutional strengthening, strategic partnerships and increased community participation.
During the first day of the workshop, participants deliberated in four thematic sessions covering the transformation of TRIs into knowledge and cultural resource centres, strengthening evidence-based research for tribal development, integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and institutional reforms to improve governance, human resources and strategic partnerships.
On the concluding day, representatives of the working groups presented their recommendations, which were consolidated into the Bhubaneswar Declaration as a shared national roadmap for strengthening Tribal Research Institutes as centres of excellence in research, innovation, knowledge management and policy support.
Addressing the valedictory session, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ranjana Chopra said Tribal Research Institutes must evolve into globally recognised centres of excellence rooted in community realities. She stressed the need for greater institutional and financial autonomy, stronger collaboration with universities, State departments and knowledge institutions, and closer integration between research, policymaking and tribal communities. She said the Bhubaneswar Declaration would provide momentum for strengthening tribal development and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The workshop also highlighted the need to strengthen governance structures, improve research quality, build skilled human resources, standardise research methodologies and establish stronger knowledge-sharing mechanisms among Tribal Research Institutes across the country.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs presented Certificates of Appreciation to seven best-performing Tribal Research Institutes for their contribution to tribal research, documentation, knowledge generation and preservation of tribal cultural heritage. The recognised institutions were the Tribal Research and Training Institute, Chhattisgarh; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute, Odisha; Tribal Research and Cultural Institute, Tripura; Tribal Research and Training Institute, Maharashtra; Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS); Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute, Telangana; and Dr Ramdayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute, Jharkhand.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Anant Prakash Pandey said the recommendations emerging from the workshop and the Bhubaneswar Declaration provide a clear roadmap for enhancing institutional capacities, promoting research excellence, embracing technology and fostering greater collaboration. He said the Ministry would continue to work with State Governments, Tribal Research Institutes and other stakeholders to implement the recommendations and strengthen tribal development across the country.
The declaration reaffirms a collective commitment to building a collaborative and future-ready tribal research ecosystem that preserves India’s rich tribal heritage while supporting evidence-based policymaking and inclusive development.
