**Executive Summary**
On March 18, 2026, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched "RISA: Timeless Tribal," a premium signature brand focused on tribal weaves, embroidery, and crafts. The initiative aims to preserve India's tribal heritage and ensure sustainable livelihoods for artisans through market access and fair profit-sharing. The project’s first phase targets 10 clusters across various states, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary global fashion demands.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Brand Inspiration and Vision**
* **Heritage Roots:** The brand name ‘RISA’ is inspired by Tripura’s traditional handwoven stole, symbolizing identity and cultural elegance.
* **Global Positioning:** The initiative seeks to position tribal textiles as premium products for both domestic and international markets while maintaining authentic roots.
* **Economic Equity:** A core goal is ensuring fair, grassroots-level profit-sharing to ensure financial benefits reach the artisans directly.
**Strategic Objectives**
* **Design Intervention:** Development of new designs and a replicable framework for product development and craft revival.
* **Capacity Building:** Training and skill enhancement for weavers and artisans to facilitate high-end production for high-value markets.
* **Infrastructure Development:** Building weaving and handicraft clusters, including the establishment of stitching units within existing clusters.
* **Premium Packaging:** Implementation of sustainable, eco-friendly packaging developed by the National Institute of Design (NID) Haryana.
**Partnerships and Scope**
* **Designer Collaborations:** The Ministry is partnering with renowned fashion designers, including Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Manish Tripathi, Anju Modi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, and Sameera Dalvi.
* **Phase 1 Coverage:** The project encompasses 5 tribal weaves (including Eri silk and Changpa Pashmina), 2 embroideries (Toda and Dongria), and 3 crafts (Longpi Pottery, Turtuk Brass Cutlery, and Dokhra Art).
* **Regional Reach:** The initiative involves diverse communities across Assam, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Artisans and Weavers**
**Impact**
Artisans gain social and economic empowerment, particularly women. The initiative provides a significant jump in income through high-value market access and protects traditional knowledge from being undervalued.
**Action Required**
Artisans must participate in capacity-building programs and adopt the new design frameworks to align with contemporary market demands.
**Fashion Designers and Industry Partners**
**Impact**
Renowned designers serve as co-creators, bridging the gap between traditional techniques and modern aesthetics to bring tribal heritage to the forefront of global fashion.
**Action Required**
Partners must collaborate with the National Design Centre (NDC) to integrate tribal motifs and weaves into premium product lines.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED**
**Impact**
These bodies act as facilitators for the "Vocal for Local" vision, strengthening the role of tribal communities in India’s economic growth story.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must oversee the development of infrastructure and ensure the equitable distribution of profits through the RISA brand framework.
**Consumers**
**Impact**
Discerning consumers gain access to authentic, high-quality, and unique tribal products with a distinct brand identity.
**Action Required**
Consumers are encouraged to support sustainable livelihoods by engaging with the brand and recognizing the value of indigenous craftsmanship.
Key Entities Referenced
RISA: Timeless Tribal: A premium signature brand launched to preserve tribal heritage and create sustainable livelihoods for artisans through weaves, embroidery, and crafts.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary government ministry responsible for the launch and oversight of the RISA initiative and broader tribal development programs.
TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India): The nodal agency responsible for the marketing and implementation of the RISA brand and ensuring fair profit-sharing for tribal artisans.
Bharat Tribes Fest: A platform and initiative designed to promote tribal products and provide market access as part of the government's inclusive growth strategy.
Shri Jual Oram: The Minister of Tribal Affairs who officially launched the RISA brand and emphasized its role in bridging the gap for undervalued tribal crafts.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches “RISA:
Timeless Tribal” - A Premium Signature Brand
Centered on Tribal Weaves, Embroidery and Crafts to
Preserve Heritage and Create Sustainable and Aspirational
Livelihood for Tribal Artisans
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 5:29PM by PIB Delhi
In a pathbreaking initiative to bring India’s rich tribal heritage to the forefront of global fashion and
lifestyle, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram launched a dedicated premium signature brand,
“RISA: Timeless Tribal,” on 18th March 2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi in the august presence of
Smt. Savitri Thakur, Hon’ble MoS Women and Child Development, Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of
Tribal Affairs, Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary of Tribal Affairs, Shri M. Rajamurugan, MD
TRIFED, and renowned designer Shri Manish Tripathi.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Minister of Tribal Affairs remarked that “tribal
crafts are timeless yet undervalued, and platforms like Bharat Tribes Fest and RISA are bridging this gap
through market access and fair profit-sharing.”
Smt. Savitri Thakur, Hon’ble MoS Women and Child Development highlighted the government’s
sustained efforts towards inclusive tribal growth, stating that “through various platforms, tribal
development is being ensured at every step by the Government, and initiatives like BTF and RISA arestrengthening this ecosystem—enhancing market access and enabling tribal communities to play a larger
role in the vision of Vocal for Local.”
Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, emphasized the need for equitable value
distribution, noting that “despite rising demand, profits often do not reach tribal artisans; RISA aims to
ensure fair, grassroots-level profit-sharing.” She further highlighted that the name ‘RISA’ is inspired by
Tripura’s traditional handwoven stole - an enduring symbol of identity, culture, and everyday elegance
worn by both men and women. Much like the widely recognized gamchha across India, RISA carries a
similar familiarity and functional relevance, making it both deeply rooted in its origin and relatable
nationwide. By retaining the name, the brand honours its authentic tribal roots while positioning it as a
textile that can be embraced across the country, seamlessly bridging local heritage with a shared Indian
identity.
Renowned designer Shri Manish Tripathi emphasized that design in India has always transcended the
boundaries of formal studios, noting that, “Design in India has never been confined to studios; it lives in
its people, its traditions, and its timeless cultural memory. RISA is not just a brand but a co-creation,
where every weave, every motif, and every detail is shaped by the hands of artisans, who are the true
custodians of this legacy.”
Delivering the vote of thanks, Managing Director, TRIFED, Shri M. Rajamurugan expressed his
sincere gratitude to all partners, artisans, designers, and stakeholders who contributed to the successful
unveiling of RISA. He highlighted that rooted in rich traditional knowledge yet aligned with contemporary
design sensibilities, RISA stands today as a powerful symbol of community-led production and inclusive
growth, reflecting the strength, creativity, and enterprise of India’s tribal communities.
The premium signature brand, RISA, aims to move with an ambitious vision to preserve tribal looms and
craft traditions, and to draw focus and generate interest among discerning consumers towards tribal
fabric/apparel, embroideries and handicrafts. The initiative aims to create a unique brand identity for tribal
products, ensuring that the intricate craftsmanship of India’s ethnic communities finds its rightful place in
premium domestic and international markets. RISA is designed to bridge the gap between traditional
techniques and contemporary demand, in the first phase the project will encompasses 10 clusters
covering 5 tribal weaves, 2 embroideries and 3 crafts, as noted by N. S. Raji, Deputy Secretary,
Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Objectives guiding the initiative involves:
Design Intervention: Creation of new designs for tribal weaves, embroideries, and handicrafts and
produce newer products thereafter. It will also build a replicable framework of new designs and
patterns for craft revival, product development, and artisan integration.
Capacity Building: Training and capacity building of tribal weavers and artisans to enhance their
skills for high-end production for high-value markets and ensuring significant jump in their income.
This will empower tribal communities, especially women both economically and socially.
Infrastructure: Development of weaving and handicraft clusters will be undertaken. The project
also aims establishment of stitching units in the existing weaving clusters.
Premium Packaging: The National Institute of Design (NID) Haryana has developed sustainable,
eco-friendly premium packaging tailored for the custom-tailored segment.
The product launch revolves around Strategic Partnerships with renowned fashion designers engaged by
the National Design Centre (NDC). Renowned designers including Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Manish
Tripathi, Anju Modi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, and Sameera Dalvi are partnering with the Ministry in this
project.The first phase of the RISA launch features a curated selection of some of India’s most iconic weaves and
crafts.
S. No. Weaves/ embroidery Communities State/UT
Involved
1. Eri silk Bodo Assam
2. Santal cotton Santal Jharkhand
3. Changpa Pashmina Changpa Ladakh
4. Kotpad cotton Mirgan Odisha
5. Muga silk Miri (Mising) Assam
6. Dongria embroidery Dongria Kondh Odisha
7. Toda embroidery Toda Tamil Nadu
Besides, the brand will also showcase specialized Handicrafts including Longpi Pottery (Manipur),
Turtuk Brass Cutlery (Ladakh), and the world-renowned Dokhra Art (Chhattisgarh).
RISA serves a vital socio-economic purpose, marking a new chapter in the preservation of India’s unique
cultural motifs while driving the economic upliftment of its tribal heartlands. Aligned with the vision of
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for a Viksit Bharat, the initiative strengthens the role of tribal
communities as key contributors to India’s growth story, promoting sustainable livelihoods, value
addition, and global recognition for indigenous craftsmanship.
RISA: Past Forward - Inspired by the Past, Imagined for the Future!
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Read this release in: Urdu