The ‘Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes’ (KIRTADS) is a department under the administrative control of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala. KIRTADS engaged in research, training, development and evaluation studies related to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities in the State of Kerala. The working of this department started in the month of April 1970 with the financial assistance of the Central Government as a part of the Girijan Welfare Department under the name of ‘Tribal Research and Training Centre’(TR&TC). It was reorganized as a separate department with effect from 23rd October 1979 and renamed as KIRTADS. Along with that, the department’s field of activity also expanded to studies on Scheduled Castes. The department receives financial assistance from the Central and State Governments. Renowned anthropologist Dr. A. Ayyappan headed the department from 1970 to 1973 as a Special Officer of TR & TC.
Objectives
The main objective of the department is to conduct training programs and basic research studies on Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and the various schemes designed and implemented by the Government and other agencies for their upliftment, to provide necessary training and guidance to the concerned departments for carrying out development activities of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, to conduct evaluation studies on the extent to which the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities have benefited from various schemes, to provide training to the concerned departments to prevent usurpation of the constitutional rights and to prepare anthropological investigation reports as per Act 11 of 1996, protection of cultural heritage of Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes, promotion and protection of traditional medicinal knowledge and arts.
Structure of the Department
KIRTADS has a different structure from other departments of the State Government. Although the operational area of the department is wide across the State, the department does not have regional or district level offices like other departments. The activities of the department are carried out in four main sections namely Administration Wing, Research Wing, Training Wing and Development Studies Wing.