Center for Integrated Tribal Studies (CITS)
Preamble
A new innovative center ?Centre for Integrated Tribal Studies? (along with six other centers), as proposed in the XII FYP and presented in the RUSA document by the University, came into existence after approved in the meeting of Standing Committee of Academic Council held on 11th December, 2015 and Executive Council held on 15th December, 2015 and notified by the university vide letter no. 230/Acad./2016 Raipur dated 6.1.2016 and No. 468/Acad/2016 Raipur dated 28.1.2016.
In CITS, the lead and participatory School of Studies are Regional Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Physical Education and School of Life Sciences. However, it is open to other interested departments too. Other departments or the interested faculty if willing can also join the Center. The Center would also be associated with other institutes working in this field.
Vision
To create an integrated knowledge base and evolve strategies for the holistic development of tribes along with their genius, through research, academic courses, skill enhancement and advisory services with a regional, national & global perspectives. It will act as a nucleus of inter-and intra disciplinary academic and research activities on tribes of Chhattisgarh by way of creating an enabling environment for sharing research expertise and skills.
Chhattisgarh, a nascent state of India with numerically dominant tribal population and rich natural resources, is in a better position to be more self reliant by appropriate exploitation of huge natural resources. Since the state has one third of its populations consisting of tribal people, an institution of this nature is of paramount importance. Hence, there is urgent need to conduct holistic studies about the various issues, long standing problems and suggest methods of their alleviation among tribes of the state.
Mission
The mission of the CITS is to improve quality of life of tribes of Chhattisgarh through education, health and economic development with the help of basic and action oriented research activities. This will ultimately help in preserving ecology and environment of Chhattisgarh resulting in sustainable development and high levels of achievement and accomplishments.
A detail study on genome will be done, that will help in prevention and better management of diseases.
The Goal
The Goal of CITS is, and will be to contribute knowledge which will help to strengthen and improve links between teaching, research, communication and communities (people) through integrated approach to achieve sustainable development goals thereby achieve food security, nutrition, health & well-being of tribals and income security and other linked development indicators.
Ethics
The Centre for Integrated Tribal Studies will further be committed to the values, which promote equality, compassion, respect for human dignity and non-discriminatory practices in the richly diverse ethnic environment.
All researches will be conducted after getting approval of Institutional Ethics Committee for Human research.
Need
The Chhattisgarh State is tribal dominating state with >31.8% of the state?s total population
There are 42 tribal groups in the state
Among these five tribal groups five viz. Abujhmaria, Baiga, Birhor, Hill Korwa and Kamar belong to PVTG
They have preserved rich heritage in terms of their culture, art and music and biological heritage
Their documentation and study is crucial as they are likely to lose their identity, biological as well as cultural in response to accelerated rate of development.