Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the ICMR–National Institute of Health Research (ICMR-NIHR), Bhubaneswar under the Janjatiya Health Institutional Transformation (JanHIT) initiative, has organised the 1^st of its kind National Orientation Programme for Tribal Healers on Public Health on 1–2^nd November 2026 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad. The programme was inaugurated at the auditorium of Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad by Shri. Manish Thakur, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Director, ICMR-NIHR, Bhubaneswar in presence of Shri B. M. Santosh, IAS, Special Secretary and Director, Tribal Welfare, Telangana, Dr. V. Samujwala, Director, Tribal Cultural Research & Training Institute (TCR&TI), Telangana, and other senior officials from Ministry of Tribal Affairs and ICMR-NIHR, Bhubaneswar. The launch of this landmark initiative on the first day of the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas Pakhwada underscores the shared commitment to honouring and empowering India's tribal communities through inclusive health and capacity-building interventions.

The 1^st phase of the orientation programme is being attended by around 550 tribal healers nominated by the State Tribal Welfare departments from nine states and UTs of India (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Keralam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli). The orientation programme aims to orient tribal healers on key public health issues and strengthen their understanding of common diseases, early identification of danger signs, and appropriate referral for timely medical care. Recognising the important role of healers in tribal communities, the initiative seeks to enhance their awareness of essential health practices and encourage linkages with the formal healthcare system.

The two-day orientation programme will cover three training modules addressing a wide range of public health concerns. These include communicable and vector-borne diseases, skin diseases, non-communicable diseases, metabolic and blood disorders, liver diseases, and mental health conditions. The sessions will also focus on appropriate referral for snakebites, scorpion & other stings, animal bites, injuries, eye and ear disorders; oral health; and newborn and infant care. The training will also include integrated practice, review sessions, a post-training assessment, and participant feedback to reinforce learning and assess the orientation's effectiveness.

Participants from different states will attend the 2 day programme, with state-wise arrangements for training sessions in regional languages to facilitate effective communication and learning. Experts from AIIMS, ICMR, Quality Control of India, MS Swaminathan Foundation, Amrita Institute, Kochi, IIHMR, Bengaluru and Piramal Swasthya, Maharashtra will be delivering sessions in respective languages for the healers. 

By orienting tribal healers on essential health concerns and appropriate referral practices, the programme seeks to promote informed community-level health support and strengthen collaboration between tribal community practices and the formal healthcare system. This structured capacity-building module developed by ICMR-NIHR, Bhubaneswar, with support from MoTA represents a milestone effort to integrate tribal healthcare practices with formal medical systems, particularly as we commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.

The programme will conclude on 2^nd November 2026 with a closing ceremony and distribution of certificates to participants.

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