Tribal students trained to teach, judge their traditional art forms
The Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies (KIRTADS) has launched a certificate program to train tribal students as master trainers and judges for indigenous art forms. The initiative aims to preserve traditional Paniya, Paliya, Irula, Hill Pulaya, and Mavila cultural practices by ensuring they are taught by qualified community members.
Why it matters
This program addresses the cultural appropriation and dilution of indigenous art forms by professionalizing the training process and empowering tribal communities to maintain their own heritage.
In a pioneering initiative to create a pool of master trainers and judges in the traditional art forms of tribal communities, the Adikala Kendram under the Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS) has trained its first batch of 26 tribal students in Paniya dance and music.
The two-month professional certificate programme, approved and funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims to develop trained practitioners from five tribal communities — Paniya, Paliya, Irula, Hill Pulaya and Mavila. The certificates for the first batch will be distributed at a ceremony on the KIRTADS campus here on August 10.
According to the organisers, the programme, launched with financial assistance of ₹50 lakh from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is the first of its kind in Kerala to systematically train members of tribal communities as professional trainers and judges in indigenous art forms.
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