RISA (Timeless Tribal): A New Initiative to Promote Tribal Heritage and Crafts

Why in News ?

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the TRIFED, launched “RISA – Timeless Tribal”, a premium brand dedicated to tribal textiles, embroidery, and handicrafts. Along with the launch, the first exclusive RISA Store was inaugurated at the Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan on 10 June 2026.

What is RISA – Timeless Tribal ?

• RISA (Timeless Tribal) is a premium brand created to promote tribal textiles, embroidery, and handicrafts. 
• The initiative aims to provide a distinct identity to tribal products, preserve India's rich tribal heritage, and expand their presence in domestic and international markets.
• It seeks to combine cultural preservation with economic empowerment for tribal communities.

Objectives of the RISA Initiative

• The RISA initiative has been conceptualized to create a unique brand identity for tribal products, strengthen market linkages for tribal artisans, facilitate design development and product diversification, and promote tribal heritage in premium national and global markets.
•  It also aims to generate better livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans, particularly women, while preserving traditional crafts and indigenous knowledge systems.
  • Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
  • Implementing Agency : Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).

Tribal Textiles and Embroidery Traditions Covered in the First Phase

• In the first phase, seven tribal textile and embroidery traditions have been selected based on their cultural significance and market potential. 
• These include Eri Silk and Muga Silk of Assam, Santal Cotton of Jharkhand, Changpa Pashmina of Ladakh, Kotpad Cotton and Dongria Embroidery of Odisha, and Toda Embroidery of Tamil Nadu.

Selected Tribal Handicrafts

• The first phase also focuses on promoting selected tribal handicrafts, including Longpi Pottery from Manipur, Turtuk Brass Cutlery from Ladakh, and Dokhra Art from Chhattisgarh. The objective is to expand market access and enhance income opportunities for artisan communities.

Design and Product Development

• To modernize products while preserving their authenticity, renowned fashion designers such as Anju Modi, Manish Tripathi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, Abu Jani, Sandeep Khosla, and Sameera Dalvi have been associated with the initiative. 
• Their role is to develop contemporary product lines while maintaining the traditional character of tribal crafts.

Implementation and Institutional Support

• The initiative is being implemented through the National Design Centre. The project includes design development, garment prototyping, capacity building of tribal weavers and artisans, establishment of stitching facilities, strengthening of weaving and handicraft clusters, and improvement in product presentation and packaging.
• The National Institute of Design has been entrusted with developing premium and environmentally sustainable packaging solutions for RISA-branded products.

Significance

• RISA is expected to contribute significantly to the economic empowerment of tribal communities by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and increasing market access. 
• At the same time, it will help preserve traditional crafts, indigenous knowledge, and cultural heritage while enhancing the visibility of tribal products in national and international markets. 
• The initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat by promoting inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.