Shimla: A delegation of the Tribal Development Department, led by Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, undertook an exposure visit to Assam and Meghalaya from April 25 to April 29, 2026, to study the functioning of Tribal Research Institutes and Tribal Affairs Departments.
The delegation held a meeting with Principal Secretary (Arts & Culture), Government of Meghalaya Frederick Kharkongor along with other officers at Shillong, to discuss key initiatives in tribal research and cultural preservation.
The delegation also held a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Government of Assam, Sweety Changson and senior officers in Dispur and discussed institutional mechanisms, welfare schemes and best practices for tribal development.
Onkar Chand Sharma said that the purpose of the visit was to gain first-hand exposure to successful models of tribal research, policy planning and community engagement being implemented in the North-Eastern states. He said that the insights and best practices observed during the visit would be adapted to strengthen programmes in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the areas of research-based policy formulation, preservation of tribal culture and inclusive socio-economic development.
He said that the visit facilitated valuable exchange of ideas and will help in strengthening tribal welfare initiatives in Himachal Pradesh.
