Fulfilling a crucial mandate under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Union Government formally operationalized the ‘Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University’ in Mulugu, Telangana. This statutory institution aims to democratize higher education for marginalized indigenous communities while serving as a premier research hub for preserving tribal epistemology.
Key Highlights & Strategic Significance
- Cultural Nomenclature: The university is named in honor of Sammakka and Sarakka, the revered mother-daughter indigenous deities who historically led a formidable tribal revolt against the oppressive taxation of the 13th-century Kakatiya dynasty.
- Statutory Backing: Established via an amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009, ensuring it receives direct, uninterrupted funding and administrative oversight from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Curriculum Focus: Transcends conventional pedagogy by offering specialized degrees in tribal linguistics, forest-based livelihoods, and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).
- Socio-Economic Catalyst: Positioned in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected Mulugu district, the institution acts as a strategic socio-economic equalizer, aiming to alienate tribal youth from insurgent ideologies through quality educational empowerment.
- Medaram Jatra Synergy: The university will scientifically document and archive the cultural practices of the Medaram Jatra (Asia’s largest tribal congregation), ensuring the intangible cultural heritage of the Koya tribe is perpetually safeguarded.
Source Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=305882
Q2. The Sammakka Saralamma Jatra (Medaram Jatra), recognized as one of the largest tribal festivals in the world, is primarily celebrated by which of the following tribal communities?
A) Santhals
B) Bhils
C) Koya
D) Toda
