Tata Steel Foundation has a legacy of over a hundred years of meaningful engagement with tribal communities across India. Rooted in this long-standing relationship, the Foundation has built deep connections through inclusive and participatory development initiatives. In 2014, the Foundation launched Samvaad, a unique ecosystem focused on tribal identity and empowerment. Over the past decade, Samvaad has evolved into the largest national platform that brings tribal voices to the forefront, enabling conversations around their culture, traditions, and development narratives. It actively fosters dialogue, discussions, and dissent while celebrating the rich and diverse essence of tribal heritage. Samvaad is not just a platform for cultural expression but a movement that strengthens tribal identity by embracing indigenous knowledge, practices, and lived experiences. The initiative stands as a powerful medium for amplifying unheard voices and highlighting the pressing issues of tribal communities across the country. It provides tribal leaders and youth with the opportunity to shape their own narrative, connect with other communities, and initiate transformative change from within. Tata Steel Foundation, through Samvaad, envisions a future where tribal culture is preserved, respected, and integrated into broader development discourses, ultimately contributing to inclusive nation-building.

The Samvaad Fellowship, offered by Tata Steel Foundation, aims to expand the reach and impact of Samvaad by supporting tribal youth who are passionate about preserving and promoting their cultural heritage. This fellowship serves as a platform for community-based action research and cultural documentation, entirely driven by the perspectives and aspirations of the tribal communities themselves. It focuses on fostering a nationwide youth network that is dedicated to protecting indigenous cultural practices that are at risk of fading away.

The fellowship will support initiatives aligned with the conservation and revitalization of tribal languages, art forms, rituals, customs, and other expressions of heritage that are essential to sustaining the community’s identity. The selected fellows will act as cultural ambassadors, undertaking projects that preserve traditions and initiate conversations around tribal values and worldviews. Through this fellowship, Tata Steel Foundation provides the opportunity and resources for young tribal leaders to actively contribute to the continuation of their ancestral knowledge systems while creating peer-led change. The Samvaad Fellowship is not just a grant—it’s a movement for tribal self-expression, autonomy, and the preservation of cultural pride through grounded, local interventions that create ripple effects across regions.