The Vadodara-based organisation Bhasha Research and Publication Centre (BRPC) has embarked on a project titled 'National Consortium of Tribal Arts and Culture (NCTAC)' to connect 14 tribal museums across India through digital technology.

The first model of this project has already been installed at Tejgadh Adivasi Academy of Chhota Udepur during an international conference held on January 4.

The system will be installed in other tribal museums of the country in two months in a phased manner.

The representatives of more than 30 countries participated in the conference named 'Chotro'. The word 'Chotro' is taken from the language spoken by Bhils and means “coming together”.

Ganesh Devy, BRPC founder, said: "The Ministry of Tribal Affairs of the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 37 lakh two years ago for this project."

Lokesh Khetan, a multimedia designer of the NCTAC, said: "Out of the 18 tribal museums set up by the government in the country, 14 contain several artefacts reflecting the history of tribal culture and tradition."

"It will be for the first time that tribal museums will have interactive display facility," said Khetan.

He said a website — www.tribalartsmuseums.org —has also been launched under this project. The site will be a sort of resource tool to know about tribal art exhibits in the country, said Khetan.

The project will include setting up of inventories housing more than 1,000 artefacts in a phased manner, he said.

Geoffrey V Davis, a professor from the University of Aachen, Germany, who along with Devy, organised the conference, said the interactive session at the four-day event included members of the indigenous tribes and experts in the field across India.