# National commitment needed to protect tribal language, culture: Minister 2026-08-24T18:56:44+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey has called for a national commitment to protect and preserve tribal languages and cultures. Speaking after inaugurating a national seminar in Mysuru on Monday, he said documenting tribal languages and the history of freedom fighters is vital for safeguarding the nation's cultural identity. The minister noted that tribal communities have played a crucial role at historical turning points and deserve greater recognition. He expressed concern over river pollution, excessive chemical use in agriculture, and the prevalence of diseases, saying modern society is losing balance with nature. He praised tribal communities for sustainably maintaining their traditional ways of life during natural disasters. Uikey called for active participation of tribal communities in shaping India into a leading global nation by 2047, stressing equal opportunities. The three-day seminar on tribal languages and museums was jointly organised by the Karnataka State Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department and the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The minister's call comes as the government's 2047 vision document, being drafted by NITI Aayog, is expected to include specific targets for tribal welfare. The challenge lies in implementation: the Constitution's Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages but none of the over 100 tribal languages spoken in India are included. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs the Scheme for Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, which includes some language documentation, but funding is limited. The next step is whether the government will propose a dedicated tribal language conservation fund in the upcoming budget or push for constitutional recognition. ## Coverage - deccanherald.com Reports the minister's speech without adding editorial commentary or framing This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Durgadas Uikey, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Mysuru Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/national-commitment-needed-to-protect-tribal-language-culture-minister/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/national-commitment-needed-to-protect-tribal-language-culture-minister/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/