The Union government has taken steps to preserve and promote the tribal languages of Tripura, including Kokborok, Darlong, Ranglong, and Uchai, according to Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey.
In response to a query from Tripura MP Kriti Devi Debbarman, Uikey stated that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is providing financial assistance to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) across the country under the centrally sponsored scheme Support to Tribal Research Institutes. This includes the Tribal Research and Cultural Institute (TR&CI) in Tripura, which is actively involved in preservation efforts.
Uikey explained that TRIs support various initiatives related to infrastructure, research, training, cultural festivals, heritage promotion, and exchange visits. The Tribal Research and Cultural Institute in Tripura has been publishing books on ‘Learning of Tribal languages of Tripura’, dictionaries, literary journals such as ‘SAIMA’ annually, and research journals like ‘TUI’ biannually. Additionally, they collaborate with Tripura University to organize seminars and workshops on indigenous tribal languages and produce audio-video documentation on tribal heritage.
Furthermore, primers in tribal languages have been introduced in government schools in Tripura and published works and documentation have been archived at TR&CI’s Social Science Library, which are also accessible online for wider dissemination.
For the financial years 2021–22 and 2024–25, a total of Rs 13 lakh has been allocated for collecting articles from tribal writers, poets, and scholars, as well as for printing books and organizing seminars and workshops in partnership with Tripura University.
Uikey also highlighted the Ministry of Education’s Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL), launched in 2013 under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru. In the first phase of this initiative, 117 languages were identified for preservation, including Darlong, Ranglong, and Uchai of Tripura.
Moreover, the minister mentioned the Bharatavani project, a Digital India initiative led by CIIL, which aims to provide knowledge resources in 121 Indian languages through an online portal. Kokborok, Halam, Mogh, and Chakma, widely spoken in Tripura with a rich literary tradition, are prominently featured on the Bharatavani portal. The project is committed to digitally preserving and disseminating the knowledge of these languages.
