Tribal Affairs Ministry Launches ‘Living Roots Originals’

"Living Roots Originals," a tribal songwriting and creator rights initiative, was introduced by the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs in  partnership with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) with the goal of bolstering the creative and economic ecosystem for tribal artists nationwide. 

However, the initiative seeks to recognise, protect and promote original musical works created by tribal communities through mentorship, copyright ownership, professional music production and access to royalty-based income opportunities.

The inaugural songwriting residency was held in Kolkata from 3–7 August 2026, bringing together 25 artists from eight tribal communities across five states. Participating communities included the Jenu Kuruba and Paniya of Kerala, the Ho of Jharkhand, the Koch Rajbanshi of West Bengal, the Chakhesang of Nagaland, and the Gond, Madia and Mahara communities of Chhattisgarh. During the residency, artists created original songs in their own languages, drawing upon their cultural traditions, histories and lived experiences.

The residency was led by Chief Mentor and music producer Dr. Upali Chattopadhyay, along with mentors Tarun Chaudhuri, and Avik Mukherjee. The programme focused on collaborative songwriting and music development while preserving the authenticity of tribal languages, musical traditions and cultural expression.

Under the initiative, every original composition created during the programme will be registered with IPRS, enabling participating artists to establish authorship and become eligible to receive royalties from the use of their music. The initiative recognises tribal artists as creators and rights holders within the formal music ecosystem.

The songs developed during the residency will be professionally recorded and produced, released across digital streaming platforms, documented through film, and showcased at national platforms, including Soundscapes of India, thereby expanding the reach and visibility of tribal musical traditions.

Ms. Ranjana Chopra, secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, emphasized a community- centric approach and praised IPRS;s initiative to promote and preserve indigenous tribal music. The Secretary suggested collective tribal intellectual property rights protection, equitable royalty and benefit-sharing mechanisms, community vetting of musical content, inclusive representation of tribal communities across regions, baseline documentation of tribal artists, and appropriate community credit and ownership. In order to provide tribal artists with long- term prospects, the Secretary also emphasized the significance of professional music creation, recording, distribution, and broader dissemination through digital and professional platforms. 

Chief Executive Officer, IPRS, stated that the initiative combines mentorship with copyright ownership and royalty protection, enabling tribal artists to receive recognition, ownership and long-term economic value for their creative work.

The initiative has been supported by institutional partners ARPO (Archival Project), Tata Steel Foundation, TaFMA (Task Force for Music & Arts, Government of Nagaland), and BADAL Academy (Bastar Academy of Dance, Arts & Literature), which facilitated outreach and engagement with participating tribal communities across different regions.

The initiative reflects the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ continued commitment to promoting tribal culture while ensuring that tribal artists receive recognition, rights protection and sustainable livelihood opportunities through access to professional creative ecosystems and intellectual property frameworks.