Tribal folk school is a network of cultural study centers. They are constituted to impart tribal cultural and folklore through various programmes of studies, seminars, village meetings and entertainment involving the whole tribal communities. These centers are managed by a committee headed by the chieftain (Moopan) of the village and specially trained animators.
The objective of this troupe is to encourage indigenous art forms and cultural richness of the adivasis. Training is given in music, theatre, dance forms, tribal instruments and modern musical instruments. This group gives stage performance at TUDI kalasangam and outside stages.
Following the directions of UNO (UNDRIP) pre-primary education is given to Paniya tribal children in their mother tongue, namely Paniya language. Using folk methods, we teach them. It is a creative initiative by TUDI.
Keni means wellspring. Here it denotes as wellspring of knowledge. A well furnished research library and documentation centre is functioning at TUDI campus. TUDI team gives research guidance and training to students, teachers and NGOs in the field of tribal culture, language, folklore, education and community development. An ethno-folk museum is setup at TUDI to preserve and promote tribal folklore and folk life.
This is a communion of different tribal sects to encourage their culture, art and folklore. It is conducted at TUDI village during the month of May. In this get together, the tribal communes from Wayanad and other regions of Kerala share their experiences and wisdom and perform their art forms.
Culture and language determine the identity of a society. By the emergence of modern consumerist culture we have ignored indigenous culture and their language. To safeguard indigenous culture and their identity, TUDI promotes research in the area of culture, education and community development.
The herbarium is envisaged for the advancement of an alternative health care system. The tribals are rich in their traditional medicinal practices, and invaluable medicinal collection. The herbarium is an endeavour to preserve and promote indigenous medicines and to make them available to the people.
This is a co-operative enterprise to inculcate scientific and technical knowledge among the tribes and to encourage eco-farming. Through this venture they become farmers than coolie workers.
TUDI accompanies the adivasi children in their formal education programmes by giving guidance and support. It is a tribal friendly education initiative.
In order to interact creatively with other cultures and societies, TUDI gives scientific training to tribal youth and children. Some of the areas of training are: socio-cultural analysis, personality development, folk art workshop, folk theatre, cultural dialogue, media work shop and social work.
To bring out the dreams of TUDI into reality, we have a publication cum production unit at TUDI center. We publish materials which are related to tribal culture, folklore and education. TUDI brings out audio-video documentation on folklore and folk life.
It is meant for developing reading habit among the children especially the tribals and to inculcate an awareness of the living world. A mobile library is functioning as part of this endeavour.
Tribal Self Help Groups (TSS) are aimed at creating a sense of self –reliance among the tribal people by developing co-operation, fellowship and desire for saving. They are given regular training by various experts.
The aim of tribal sports is to provide opportunity to the children and youth to impart training and direction to nourish their inherent physical abilities and make them disciplined.
TUDI tries to net-work with other like-minded social groups and initiatives in the field of tribal empowerment, culture, education, legal aid and other human right issues
A career guidance desk is set up at TUDI to give training and direction to tribal youth in the field of job reservation and other job opportunities.
TUDI is a novel experiment in the field of socio-cultural intervention .Though it is a local initiative, its vision has got global significance. In the context of globalization, TUDI proposes alternative models for people’s development.