Itanagar, June 16: The Tribal Research Institute (TRI) at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, under the guidance of Dr. Bikash Bage, Sr. Associate Professor of Sociology and Nodal Officer of the Tribal Research Institute, has successfully completed eight major research projects for the year 2022-23. These projects, funded by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs (SJETA) through its Nodal Agency, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India (GOI), New Delhi, were entirely focused on the tribal indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing the media, Yumlam Kaha, Director of Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs, highlighted the significance of these projects in facilitating policy frameworks and programs for the state. He acknowledged the collaboration between the departments of Sociology, Anthropology, and Economics at the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies of Rajiv Gandhi University and Don Bosco College, Itanagar, along with senior faculties and researchers. The projects were expedited with the active involvement of Dr. Bikash Bage and several other esteemed researchers.
The completed projects cover various aspects of tribal life in Arunachal Pradesh. They include studies on tribal youths and employment opportunities in Ziro Valley, sanitation among the Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Papumpare district, empowerment through education for the ADI tribe of East Siang District, the role of education in social development among tribes, mental health and help-seeking behavior among Arunachal Pradesh’s youths, an anthropological study of customary laws among Nah women of Taksing Circle, archaeological exploration in Arunachal Pradesh, and documentation and dissemination of folktales.
These research projects will contribute to the existing knowledge about Arunachal Pradesh and will be made available on various online platforms, including Google. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI, has already uploaded the projects to the national-level Digital Repository, ensuring their accessibility to researchers and scholars. The findings of these projects are expected to play a vital role in shaping policies and program frameworks in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Tribal Research Institute had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rajiv Gandhi University in September 2019 to carry out research activities. As one of the 25 Tribal Research Institutes in India, the TRI plays a crucial role in conducting research related to tribal affairs under the mandate of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI, and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
The completed projects have been officially submitted to the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs, Itanagar on June 15, 2023. These projects, comprising nine principal investigators and co-principal investigators, received support from a dedicated team of 28 research assistants, field investigators, artists, and administrative staff. The TRI expressed its gratitude to the Department of SJETA, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and its team members for their support and guidance throughout the research process.
These research projects are original works and have undergone rigorous scrutiny to ensure they are free from plagiarism. All sources have been appropriately cited and acknowledged. The completion of these projects within the record time of nine months is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the researchers and their team.
