Press Release
Press Release from Social Welfare Department
Information & Public Relations Department
Two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) Concludes on 8th of July 2026 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha with Focus on Institutional Reforms, Research Excellence and Technology Integration.
The two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, concluded successfully in Bhubaneswar, bringing together representatives from Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), policymakers, academicians, researchers, development practitioners and technology experts from across the country. The workshop served as a platform for all States/UTs to deliberate on strengthening the role of TRIs as centres of excellence for research, policy support, cultural preservation and innovation.
The workshop was inaugurated on 7th of July 2026 by Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Shri Durgadas Uikey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in the presence of Shri Nityananda Gond, Hon’ble Minister, Government of Odisha. The programme also had the presence of Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog, along with other senior officers from the Ministry and State Governments. During the inaugural session, the Ministry also launched TribeX – A Digital Learning Platform and facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.
The team from Sikkim was led by Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary and attended by Ms. Bandana Chettri, Special Secretary-cum Director TRI, Ms. Chunkula Bhutia, Deputy Secretary and Ms. Sangay Diki Bhutia, Research Officer from Social Welfare Department.
The first day featured discussions on the functioning and effectiveness of Tribal Research Institutes, where Special Secretary-cum- Director, TRI Sikkim, Ms Bandana Chettri presented their best practices and experiences along with six other 06 States. This was followed by four thematic breakout working groups covering:
• TRIs as Knowledge and Cultural Resource Centres;
• Research, Documentation and Evidence Generation for Tribal Development;
• Technology Integration, GIS, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Ecosystem; and
• Institutional Strengthening, Human Resources, Governance and Partnerships.
The deliberations generated valuable recommendations for enhancing the institutional capacity and effectiveness of TRIs across the country.
On the second day, the workshop began with presentations from all four working groups. During the session the recommendations of group no 3 was presented by Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim on ‘’Technology Integration, GIS, AI and Innovation Ecosystem’’ followed by deliberations with officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The recommendations were consolidated into a roadmap for strengthening the national TRI ecosystem.
The workshop also focused on Strengthening TRI Research Ecosystems, emphasising quality research, relevance, collaboration, multidisciplinary partnerships, human resource management and evidence-based policy support. The deliberations on Proposed Reforms in TRIs examined governance, institutional priorities, innovation, technological interventions, capacity building, design thinking and sustainable development approaches.
The workshop concluded with the presentation of consolidated recommendations and the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, outlining a collective vision for transforming Tribal Research Institutes into vibrant knowledge institutions that support evidence-based policymaking, preserve tribal heritage and strengthen tribal development initiatives. The closing address reaffirmed the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ commitment to modernising and strengthening TRIs through improved governance, enhanced research capacity, digital transformation, institutional partnerships and greater collaboration among States.
The workshop marked an important step towards building a stronger, more responsive and future-ready network of Tribal Research Institutes capable of addressing emerging challenges while preserving India’s rich tribal heritage and contributing effectively to inclusive development.
The two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, concluded successfully in Bhubaneswar, bringing together representatives from Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), policymakers, academicians, researchers, development practitioners and technology experts from across the country. The workshop served as a platform for all States/UTs to deliberate on strengthening the role of TRIs as centres of excellence for research, policy support, cultural preservation and innovation.
The workshop was inaugurated on 7th of July 2026 by Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Shri Durgadas Uikey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in the presence of Shri Nityananda Gond, Hon’ble Minister, Government of Odisha. The programme also had the presence of Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog, along with other senior officers from the Ministry and State Governments. During the inaugural session, the Ministry also launched TribeX – A Digital Learning Platform and facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.
The team from Sikkim was led by Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary and attended by Ms. Bandana Chettri, Special Secretary-cum Director TRI, Ms. Chunkula Bhutia, Deputy Secretary and Ms. Sangay Diki Bhutia, Research Officer from Social Welfare Department.
The first day featured discussions on the functioning and effectiveness of Tribal Research Institutes, where Special Secretary-cum- Director, TRI Sikkim, Ms Bandana Chettri presented their best practices and experiences along with six other 06 States. This was followed by four thematic breakout working groups covering:
• TRIs as Knowledge and Cultural Resource Centres;
• Research, Documentation and Evidence Generation for Tribal Development;
• Technology Integration, GIS, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Ecosystem; and
• Institutional Strengthening, Human Resources, Governance and Partnerships.
The deliberations generated valuable recommendations for enhancing the institutional capacity and effectiveness of TRIs across the country.
On the second day, the workshop began with presentations from all four working groups. During the session the recommendations of group no 3 was presented by Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim on ‘’Technology Integration, GIS, AI and Innovation Ecosystem’’ followed by deliberations with officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The recommendations were consolidated into a roadmap for strengthening the national TRI ecosystem.
The workshop also focused on Strengthening TRI Research Ecosystems, emphasising quality research, relevance, collaboration, multidisciplinary partnerships, human resource management and evidence-based policy support. The deliberations on Proposed Reforms in TRIs examined governance, institutional priorities, innovation, technological interventions, capacity building, design thinking and sustainable development approaches.
The workshop concluded with the presentation of consolidated recommendations and the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, outlining a collective vision for transforming Tribal Research Institutes into vibrant knowledge institutions that support evidence-based policymaking, preserve tribal heritage and strengthen tribal development initiatives. The closing address reaffirmed the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ commitment to modernising and strengthening TRIs through improved governance, enhanced research capacity, digital transformation, institutional partnerships and greater collaboration among States.
The workshop marked an important step towards building a stronger, more responsive and future-ready network of Tribal Research Institutes capable of addressing emerging challenges while preserving India’s rich tribal heritage and contributing effectively to inclusive development.
