**Executive Summary**
On April 12, 2026, Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated a conference in New Delhi titled “Transformation of Tribal Lives through Science and Technological Interventions.” The event emphasized the integration of modern science with traditional tribal knowledge to foster green economic development and cultural preservation. Key government initiatives like PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Abha Abhiyan were highlighted as central to the mission of inclusive development for India's tribal population.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Core Philosophy and Vision**
* Development and cultural preservation are viewed as complementary rather than contradictory, guided by the principle “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (Development and Heritage).
* The conference demonstrated how scientific temper and technological advancement can work in harmony with traditional language, faith, and culture for tribal empowerment.
* Tribal communities are recognized as the primary custodians of India’s biodiversity, ancient culture, and civilisational heritage.
**Tribal Demographics and Economic Potential**
* India has approximately 1.4 lakh tribal villages, representing nearly 9 per cent of the national population.
* Tribal areas offer significant potential for green economic development.
* Tribal communities possess exceptional, generationally-preserved skills in design, textiles, and colour combinations.
**Government Initiatives and Infrastructure**
* **PM-JANMAN programme:** Facilitating infrastructure through the sanctioning of over 2,400 roads (7,300 km) and more than 160 bridges.
* **Dharti Abha – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:** Covering over 63,000 tribal villages with a focus on clean water, housing, education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods.
* Commitment to inclusive development through enhanced connectivity and infrastructure in the North Eastern region.
**Educational Empowerment**
* The ITITI Doon Sanskriti School has provided free quality education to over 2,000 tribal students from Uttarakhand, the North-East, and Ladakh over the past 25 years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities**
**Impact**
They are the primary beneficiaries of enhanced infrastructure (roads/bridges) and basic services like housing and healthcare. Their traditional knowledge is being validated and integrated with modern science to support sustainable livelihoods.
**Action Required**
Communities are encouraged to leverage government schemes and technological interventions to participate in green economic development while preserving their cultural heritage.
**Government Departments (DST, NECTAR, and Ministry of Tribal Affairs)**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for executing the vision of "Viksit Bharat @ 2047" by bridging the gap between modern technology and tribal traditions.
**Action Required**
Must ensure the successful implementation of the PM-JANMAN and Dharti Abha initiatives and continue fostering collaborations between scientific institutions and tribal areas.
**Educational and Technical Institutions**
**Impact**
Institutions like ITITI Doon Sanskriti School serve as critical beacons of hope for tribal children, providing the education necessary for social mobility.
**Action Required**
Must continue to provide quality education and develop technological applications that are relevant to tribal contexts and resource management.
Key Entities Referenced
Dharti Abha – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: A major government initiative aimed at providing clean water, housing, education, and healthcare across more than 63,000 tribal villages.
PM-JANMAN: A focused development program for tribal communities under which significant infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges, are sanctioned.
Department of Science and Technology: The primary government department responsible for organizing the conference and promoting technological interventions to empower tribal populations.
Viksit Bharat @ 2047: The overarching national vision for India's development by 2047, guided by the principle of balancing modern development with the preservation of heritage.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central government body established to ensure justice, dignity, and socio-economic opportunities for tribal communities.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President inaugurates conference on
transformation of tribal lives through science and
technology in New Delhi
“Modern development and preservation of culture are not
condradictory but complementary”: Vice President
Tribal communities custodians of India’s culture and
biodiversity: Vice President
Vice President highlights potential of tribal areas in green
economic development
Posted On: 12 APR 2026 12:51PM by PIB Delhi
The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated a conference titled
“Transformation of Tribal Lives through Science and Technological Interventions – Preserving Language,
Faith and Culture” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated a conference titled
“Transformation of Tribal Lives through Science and Technological Interventions -
Preserving Language, Faith and Culture” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President… pic.twitter.com/1WBRsH5ZPe
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) April 12, 2026
The conference was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in
collaboration with the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) and ITITI
Doon Sanskriti School, Dehradun.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President highlighted that the conference has beautifully demonstrated
the power of scientific temper and technological advancement when combined with traditional knowledge.
He noted that when modern science works in harmony with language, faith and culture, it becomes a
powerful force for protection and empowerment.
Emphasising the importance of tribal communities, the Vice President said that India has around 1.4 lakh
tribal villages, comprising nearly 9 per cent of the country’s population. He underlined that tribal
communities possess invaluable traditional knowledge that supports biodiversity and sustainable use offorest resources. He added that for centuries, these communities have preserved India’s ancient culture,
faith and civilisational heritage.
The Vice President observed that tribal areas offer immense potential for green economic development. He
also remarked on the exceptional skills of tribal communities in design, textiles and colour combinations,
which have been preserved over generations.
Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, he stated that the guiding principle is “Vikas Bhi, Virasat
Bhi”, emphasising that modern development and preservation of traditions are not contradictory but
complementary.
Recalling his tenure as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha, the Vice President noted that he had
supported the creation of the states of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, which contributed to the
tribal upliftment. He also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for establishing
the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, describing it as a moral commitment to justice, dignity and opportunity for
tribal communities.
The Vice President also spoke about his visits to Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birthplace at Ulihatu in
Jharkhand and appreciated the efforts of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in bringing the
contributions of tribal freedom fighters to the forefront of national consciousness.
Highlighting key government initiatives, he referred to the PM-JANMAN programme under which over
2,400 roads spanning nearly 7,300 km and more than 160 bridges have been sanctioned. He also
mentioned the Dharti Abha – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which covers over 63,000 tribal villages
with a focus on clean water, housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods.
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan noted the significant development in infrastructure and connectivity in the North
Eastern region and reiterated the Government’s commitment to inclusive development.
Congratulating ITITI Doon Sanskriti School on its Silver Jubilee year, he recalled that the institution was
inaugurated 25 years ago by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.He lauded the school for
emerging as a beacon of hope for tribal children across Uttarakhand, the North-East and Ladakh, and
noted that more than 2,000 tribal students have benefited from free quality education at the institution.
On the occasion, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu; Deputy Chief Minister of
Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Chowna Mein; Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Abhay
Karandikar; and former MP and Founder Trustee of ITITI Doon Sanskriti School, Shri Tarun Vijay, were
also present.
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ASM
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