Tata Steel Foundation kicks off Samvaad 2026 in Jamshedpur; Nicobar Islands tribe among 353 participants

India is home to 705 Scheduled Tribes (STs), with efforts made by the Union government and other private foundations to keep their traditions alive today.

The Tata Steel Foundation is holding the 13th edition of its Samvaad conclave, which includes tribes from across the country, at Jamshedpur from November 15-19.

The aim of the conclave is to bring together participants from different tribes looking forward to dialogue, cultural exchange and celebration on one platform. This is its flagship programme with 2500 participants, of which 15 per cent participation comes from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). 55 per cent of the participants will also be attending a Samvaad conclave for the first time.

In terms of tribes, of the 353 participating this time, there are 32 that are coming to Samvaad for the first time. This includes tribes from the Nicobar Islands, as well as the Dhurwa and Dal tribes from Odisha.

22-year-old Daniel Solma from the Car Nicobar Islands spoke about representing his tribe for the first time at this conclave.

“It’s always a learning experience, and I look forward to a lot of new experiences and learning from Samvaad,” said Daniel Solma.

The Tata Steel Foundation looks at inclusive development and to recognise contribution of the tribal community and create opportunities to shape their own future while retaining their distinct identities.

“Our engagement with tribal communities stems from the belief that development must be participatory and rooted in the aspirations of the communities it seeks to serve. Our goal is to go beyond extending opportunities, to recognising the knowledge, capabilities and leadership that already exist within these communities,” said Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation.

Over the years, Samvaad has engaged more than 1.3 lakh people from 353 tribal communities. In the run-up to the November conclave, the Tata Steel Foundation has held 21 regional Samvaad workshops across the country since April this year, engaging more than 6,000 people.

The conclave brings together conversations around tribal identity, knowledge systems, education, language preservation, governance, representation and community aspirations. These dialogues will be complemented by showcasing tribal music, cuisine, cinema, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial efforts.

70 home chefs hailing from 22 tribal communities across 14 states and one Union Territory will present signature dishes through curated dining experiences, cooking demonstrations and food stalls.

There will be musical collaborations inspired by the Oraon, Munda, Rabha, Bodo, Lepcha, Santhal and Ho communities as well. 25 shortlisted tribal cinemas will be showcased at the conclave. There are also tribal healers speaking about traditional healing practices.

Samvaad 2026 will also see deliberations on tribal identity, governance, education, language preservation and development.

Samvaad 2026 coincides with the 26th anniversary of Jharkhand Statehood Day and the 151st birth anniversary of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda.

The Indian government, on its part, works to promote welfare of tribal communities in the country with various schemes.

These include PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, or DAJGUA) for healthcare, education and livelihood; the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) for housing, mobile and road connectivity; and the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), merging minor forest produce (MFP) and tribal product marketing schemes to strengthen sustainable forest-based entrepreneurship and local value chains via agencies.

The other initiatives include the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), enabling residential schools featuring digital and AI curriculum, Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF-STs) for ST entrepreneurship and incubation of startup ideas and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).