The Institute of Tribal Studies and Research in Kerala has submitted a proposal to upgrade its facilities, as revealed in a response during the Lok Sabha session on Monday. In reply to a query from Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta stated that since the project proposal primarily focused on academic activities, it falls outside the scope of her ministry and has been forwarded to the education ministry.

Rahul Gandhi’s question pertained to initiatives promoting tribal research and studies in India, along with whether the government had received a proposal from the institute in Chethalayam, Wayanad, regarding facility upgrades. Minister Saruta clarified that the University of Calicut had made a representation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2018 for upgrading the Institute of Tribal Studies and Research’s facilities.

Given the academic emphasis of the proposal, particularly on higher education for tribal students and infrastructure development, the matter was referred to the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, for examination and support from the allocated STC funds. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports various activities through the centrally-sponsored scheme ‘Support of Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs),’ providing financial assistance to states and union territories for research programs conducted by state tribal research institutes.

As of this year, with the establishment of a TRI in Ladakh, there are a total of 28 TRIs across the country, according to the minister. Rahul Gandhi, who represents the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has posed 94 questions in the 17th Lok Sabha, compared to the national average of 191, as per data compiled by think-tank PRS Legislative Research.

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