Srinagar August 17:(KNS) The Working Group constituted by the government for establishment of Tribal Research Institute held its first meeting to finalise the plan for infrastructure, manpower, Human Resource and Cultural & research wings.
Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department and Director TRI Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary chaired the Working Group meeting which was attended by Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages/ Director Archives & Archeology, Rahul Pandey, Director Tribal Affairs , Musheer Mirza, Director Libraries and Research, Rafi Ahmed, Dr Jasbir Singh and Prof Deepankar Sengupta, HoDs from Jammu University, Prof Peerzada Amin (Kashmir University) and Prof G M Malik (BGSBU), all members of the Working Group.
The Working Group discussed various plans for time-bound establishment of Tribal Research Institute and associated culture centres. The agenda included Roadmap for establishment of TRI, Proposal for sanction of staff, Deputation of staff from various organisations and department, Tribal Research Fellowships, Establishment of museums, Tribal Research Chairs, Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Institution of Awards , organising Camps covering Health screening and Awareness among tribal communities, Research studies/ Documentation, Timelines for various initiatives and Inter-sectoral coordination/Support
Director TRI Dr Shahid Choudhary laid out the roadmap for establishment of TRI which will include Research and Cultural Wings covering diverse fields. The TRI with headquarters at Srinagar will have Tribal Research Chairs in Jammu University, BGSB University Rajouri, Kashmir University and Central University Jammu. Three museums proposed to be started in two phases at Poonch, Rajouri and GDCT Jammu were also discussed apart from research centre proposed at Ramnagar and Doda. TRI is rolling out fellowships in various research fields related to tribal welfare and development.
Institute of Research in Tribal Health has been proposed to be set up as a part of TRI in collaboration with Govt Medical College, Srinagar. Museum at Poonch and Rajouri in collaboration with Jammu University and BGSBU respectively while one museum at Jammu is being established at GDCT in collaboration with administration.
Secretary JKAACL and Director Archives & Archeology, Rahul Pandey proposed all the support for museums and technical staffing. Director, Libraries and Research, Rafi Ahmed discussed about establishment of libraries on various aspects of tribal languages and culture as well as new literary projects.
Director, Tribal Affairs Musheer Mirza briefed about the role of working group and focus of Department to implement all decisions taken. Prof Deepankar Sengupta shared the proposal about living museum on tribal life and culture, Dr Malik from BGSBU shared broader contours of tribal Research chair covering various research and development projects and Dr Jasbir Singh briefed the group about Research priorities and all support from Jammu University for tribal research. Prof Peerzada shared the willingness of Kashmir University to associate with TRI for action research and literary projects.
The Working Group also discussed signing of MoUs between TRI and Universities , Research Centres, Centres of Excellence, Medical institutes, Engineering & Technology institutes and other premier institutes for research as well as technical support and developmental models to support tribal communities in J&K with focus on livelihood, housing, healthcare, education models and transit facilities among others.(KNS)