Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and his Cabinet colleague G Kishan Reddy will lay the foundation for the Museum at Abids on Monday. They will also inaugurate the tribal research institute (TRI) at Masab Tank, which was funded with Rs 6.5 crore from the Central government.
The museum will have different zones on each floor. The ground floor will include a digital interpretation zone, interactive map, information kiosk, touch interface, and more. The first floor will showcase the Nirmal Ghat Fight and the Banyan tree of 1,000 nooses, along with documents and artifacts of Ramji Gond. The second floor will feature exhibits on tribal freedom fighters like KumramBheem, Birsa Munda, and the Manyam Revolt. The third floor will focus on the Chenchus and other vulnerable tribal groups of Telangana, highlighting their arts, artifacts, and traditions.
The tribal research institute, built on 0.3 acres, will provide support to the Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute of Telangana (TCRTI). It will conduct surveys, research, and evaluation studies to understand the impact of schemes implemented for tribal communities. The institute will also study the history, culture, languages, arts, crafts, and traditions of tribes in Telangana.
Kishan Reddy expressed his satisfaction with the establishment of the museum and research institute, stating that it will finally give proper recognition to the sacrifices made by tribals for Telangana’s independence. He emphasized the importance of researching and sharing the culture and traditions of tribal communities with the world.
Telangana has a tribal population of 9.08% according to the 2011 Census, with a diverse range of indigenous populations and particularly vulnerable communities.
The Centre initially sanctioned Rs. 15 crore for the museum in 2019-20 and recently approved an additional amount of Rs. 10 crore. The State government has allocated 0.75 acres in Abids for the museum to ensure accessibility. The soil-bearing capacity test and estimates for the museum’s construction have also been completed, with a budget of Rs. 34 crore.
