Chennai

The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister Stalin, is working on a plan to document and preserve the languages of the Adi Dravidar and tribal communities in the state. They aim to create a policy framework within the next four months to safeguard these languages.

The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department has been tasked with preserving the rich culture, heritage, and languages of tribal communities. An initial fund of ₹2 crore has been allocated for the early stages of this preservation and documentation effort. Languages such as those spoken by the Toda, Kota, Solaga, Kani, and Narikuravar communities will be documented. The department has held discussions with anthropologists, linguists, folklore activists, and tribal musicians to gather insights for this comprehensive project.

Officials expect the policy to be ready soon and plan to incorporate extensive feedback from experts on tribal languages, customs, and heritage. They will also explore folklore and oral traditions. Once the policy is approved, committees will be formed to begin studying the languages. Additionally, the government aims to collaborate with various institutions focused on tribal welfare and the United Nations, which has designated 2022-2032 as the ‘Decade of Indigenous Languages.’