Arunachal Pradesh stresses on documentation of tribal cultural

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has directed the state's research department to expedite work on "audio-visual documentation of cultural heritage of Mishmi tribes" of the state.

Mein's directive came on Monday during a meeting with research department Secretary Dani Salu, Director Batem Pertin and a German anthropologist who is working on tribals of the state for 15 years, an official release said.

The researcher from Hydelberg, Dr Gerhard Heller, is presently working on the indigenous healing practice of the Idu Mishmi tribe who inhabit the Dibang valley region.

Heller had already documented the traditional healing systems of other tribes such as Miju Mishmi, Digaro Mishmi, Monpa and Galo tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the release said.

Mein, also holding the planning and finance portfolio, said the documentation project was announced in his budget speech and also reflected in the departmental State Annual Development Agenda (SADA) for the year 2018-19.

The deputy chief minister also asked the research department to complete formalities of signing an agreement with Heller immediately and begin the work soon.

Official sources said the agreement would enable the government to utilise Heller's findings to initiate tribal tourism in the state.

His expertise would also be helpful in setting up a digital museum in the state capital which would showcase the rich cultural heritage of all the tribes of the state, the sources said.

Salu said the documentation project would be completed within the stipulated period of two years.

Mein also asked the research department to expedite the digital museum project.

The concept paper for the digital museum project has already been submitted and it is being finalised, the research secretary said.

-PTI