In a landmark initiative towards inclusive tribal empowerment and linguistic preservation, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs today launched the Beta Version of Adi Vaani, India’s first AI-powered translation platform for tribal languages. The launch event was organized at Samrasta Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, as part of the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (JJGV).
The event was graced by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, who performed the ceremonial lighting of the lamp in the presence of Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and Professor Rangan Banerjee, IIT Director, IIT Delhi through video conferencing, and Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ms. Deepali Masirkar, Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, , Professor Vivek Kumar, BBMC Cell, IIT Delhi, Associate Professor Sandeep Kumar, IIT Delhi. The launch was joined by all State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) and leading experts on tribal languages, underlining the collaborative spirit behind the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Uikey highlighted that language is the foundation of cultural identity and plays a vital role in connecting communities. He emphasized that Adi Vaani will help bridge communication gaps for tribal communities residing in remote areas, empower tribal youth digitally, and support last-mile delivery of services under the Adi Karmayogi framework.
Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, described Adi Vaani as a frugal innovation developed at nearly one-tenth the cost of commercial platforms. He underlined that the project integrates cutting-edge technology with authentic linguistic data collected by State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) and has been designed with a feedback system to promote continuous improvement through community participation.
Prof. Ranjan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, said that Adi Vaani reflects how artificial intelligence can be effectively deployed to preserve languages, cultures, and traditions while bringing meaningful impact to people’s lives.
Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, emphasized that the loss of language leads to the erosion of culture and heritage. He added that Adi Vaani is an outcome of collaborative efforts between the Central Government, State Governments through TRIs, and premier technical institutions, making it a low-cost, high-impact solution to preserve and promote tribal languages.
About Adi Vaani
Adi Vaani is not just an AI powered translation tool but a platform to connect communities and preserve cultural identity. The initiative will support digitization of endangered languages, improve access to education, healthcare and governance in native languages, facilitate tribal entrepreneurship, and serve as a knowledge resource for researchers.
Adi Vaani has been developed by a national consortium led by IIT Delhi, in collaboration with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Nava Raipur, and the Tribal Research Institutes of Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya. The Adi Vaani – AI tool is available on web portal (https://adivaani.tribal.gov.in ) and the Beta version of the App shall be shortly available on Play Store and iOS. At the Beta launch stage, it supports Santali (Odisha), Bhili (Madhya Pradesh), Mundari (Jharkhand), and Gondi (Chhattisgarh), with Kui and Garo under development.
A live demonstration of the platform was conducted, showcasing real-time translations in Bhili and, Gondi. Experts from partnering TRIs validated the translations, followed by an interactive session with participants and stakeholders.
Key features include:
- Real-time text and speech translation between Hindi, English and tribal languages
- Interactive language learning modules for students and early learners
- Digitization of folklore, oral traditions, and cultural heritage
- Subtitled advisories and government messages, including health information and Prime Minister’s speeches, in tribal languages
- Inclusive access to education, healthcare and governance in native languages
Towards Viksit Bharat 2047
By digitizing and preserving India’s tribal linguistic heritage, Adi Vaani aligns with the vision of Digital India, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, PM JANMAN, Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. The platform sets a pioneering global model for low-resource language preservation and is expected to empower over 20 lakh tribal change leaders in building an inclusive, knowledge-driven Viksit Bharat by 2047.
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