National Capacity Building Programme for Tribal Healers Launched

Advancing the vision of inclusive, equitable and culturally rooted tribal development, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will organise India’s first National Capacity Building Programme for Tribal Healers on Strengthening Health Outreach in Tribal Areas on January 16–17, 2026, in Hyderabad, Telangana. The initiative marks a significant step towards formally recognising and integrating tribal and indigenous healers into India’s public health ecosystem as trusted community-level partners.

High-Level Participation and Policy Commitment

The programme will be graced by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs “Jual Oram”, Minister of State “Durgadas Uikey”, and Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs “Ranjana Chopra”. Their presence reflects the Government of India’s commitment to culturally sensitive, evidence-based health interventions in tribal and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group regions.

MoU for Bharat Tribal Health Observatory

A major highlight will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and “ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre Bhubaneswar” for establishing India’s first National Tribal Health Observatory, the Bharat Tribal Health Observatory, under Project DRISTI. The initiative will institutionalise tribe-disaggregated health surveillance, implementation research and research-driven disease elimination strategies, addressing critical gaps in tribal health data and policy evidence.

Strengthening Tribal Health Interventions

Over the years, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has emerged as a nodal agency for improving tribal health outcomes through focused interventions such as the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission and convergence with national programmes on tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria. Flagship initiatives like PM JANMAN and DAJGUA have further strengthened health infrastructure and service delivery in tribal regions, positioning the Ministry at the forefront of addressing health inequities.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The programme is India’s first national initiative for capacity building of tribal healers.
• Bharat Tribal Health Observatory will enable tribe-disaggregated health surveillance.
• The initiative aligns with Project DRISTI of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Focus areas include TB, vector-borne diseases and sickle cell anaemia in tribal regions.

Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Public Health

The programme is being organised with technical support from institutions such as “Indian Council of Medical Research”, “All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi”, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of AYUSH and the “World Health Organization”. Together with the MoU, the initiative emphasises structured capacity building, ethical safeguards, digital health surveillance and referral-oriented training of tribal healers, reinforcing synergy between indigenous knowledge systems and modern public health frameworks.