CHENNAI: The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department has issued a government order to provide scholarship to 70 students under the Tamil Nadu Fellowship for Tribal Research initiative, which is part of the Tholkudi programme. This fellowship promotes research into the lives of tribal communities in the state.

Final year undergraduate and postgraduate students will receive Rs 10,000 per month for six months, while doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers will receive Rs 25,000 per month for three years.

“Encouraging such research will help identify options and evaluate potential outcomes, leading to informed decisions that will shape state policy,” the guidelines state. Students can explore various facets of tribal life, including culture, history, language, social structure, customs, governance systems, and socio-economic and political well-being.

Research may also focus on the unique identities of different tribal groups, their relationships with the environment, art forms, spiritual beliefs, traditional knowledge, and interactions with the modern world.

However, the research topics should cover governance, development, rights, culture, education, health and livelihood issues affecting tribal communities.

Eligibility criteria include residency in Tamil Nadu and parental income not exceeding Rs 8 lakh per annum. The maximum age of candidates is 50 years for men and 55 years for women. Students must be enrolled full-time on undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral or postdoctoral courses at recognized institutions.

A selection committee of scholars will be formed by the Director Tribal Welfare, while the Adi Dravidar and Secretary Tribal Welfare will head the selection committee. Priority will be given to tribal, Scheduled Caste and converted Christian students, with additional preference to women, disabled and transgender candidates.

Once completed, researchers must submit their thesis to the government.

The state government has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the Tholkudi scheme, which will be spent over four years, from 2024-25 to 2027-28. For 2024-25, an amount of Rs 250 crore has been allocated, focusing on improving infrastructure and livelihoods in tribal areas.