The two-day International Conference on “Multidisciplinary Research in Tribal Development: Challenges, Opportunities and Sustainable Development”, organized by Chaitanya Science and Arts Autonomous College, Pamgarh (Janjgir-Champa), concluded successfully and on a grand note on 09 August 2026 through Google Meet.
The conference was organized under the joint aegis of the Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh Economic Association (MPCEA), Tribal Research Chair (SSMWA), and Social Science and Management Welfare Association (SSMWA). The conference aimed to provide a multidisciplinary academic platform for researchers, academicians, policymakers and subject experts to deliberate upon the challenges, opportunities and sustainable development pathways associated with tribal communities.
Participation of More Than 200 Researchers from India and Around the World
The conference witnessed participation from more than 200 researchers, academicians, subject experts and scholars representing almost all states and Union Territories of India, along with participants from more than 10 countries, including Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nigeria, Romania and South Africa, among others.
During the two-day academic event, more than 200 research papers were presented on diverse dimensions of tribal development and sustainable development, covering areas such as education, socio-economic development, livelihood, environmental conservation, social transformation and emerging challenges.
The research papers presented during the conference are proposed to be published in the internationally oriented research journal IJSSMS (ISSN: 2454-4655), subject to the applicable editorial and publication processes.
International Appreciation for the Organization and Management
The conference received widespread appreciation from distinguished speakers, chief guests, researchers and participants from India and abroad. Participants particularly appreciated the technical arrangements, systematic coordination, discipline, time management and overall organization of the event.
Several international scholars described the conference organized by Chaitanya Science and Arts College, Pamgarh, as “Incredible,” “unprecedented” and “remarkable.” They appreciated the initiative of providing an international academic platform from a rural and semi-urban region, observing that such an initiative represents a significant contribution to the advancement of higher education and research.
The event also demonstrated the potential of institutions located in rural areas to successfully host academic programmes with international participation and create meaningful opportunities for global scholarly exchange.
Organizing Committee and Leadership
The successful organization of the conference was made possible through the dedicated efforts and coordinated leadership of the organizing committee:
Patron: Mr. Veerendra Tiwari, Chairman, Governing Body, Chaitanya Science and Arts College, Pamgarh
Co-Patron: Dr. V. K. Gupta, Principal, Chaitanya Science and Arts College, Pamgarh
Convener: Dr. Amit Chandra, Principal, B.Ed. Department
Conference Secretary: Dr. Narendranath Guria, Head, Department of Geography
Eminent Guests, Speakers and International Experts
The conference was graced by distinguished academicians, administrators and experts. Among the prominent speakers and guests were Prof. Vinay Chauhan, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Shaheed Nandkumar Patel University, Raigarh; Dr. Rupendra Kavi, Hon’ble Deputy Secretary, Governor’s Secretariat, Government of Chhattisgarh; Mr. Abhishek Ranjan Kumar, Innovation Officer, Ministry of Education, Government of India; Dr. Tarun Dhar Diwan, Registrar, Shaheed Nandkumar Patel University, Raigarh; and Dr. Jitendra Kumar Singh, Registrar, Jharkhand State Open University.
Eminent speakers including Dr. P. L. Chandrakar, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, and Prof. V. P. Sati, Mizoram University, Mizoram, presented their research and shared valuable academic perspectives.
Prof. Garima Tiwari, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, shared insightful and forward-looking perspectives on tribal development and environmental conservation, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and inclusive approaches to development.
The international sessions featured distinguished experts including Dr. Wajira Gunasena (Sri Lanka), Fadhilla Shelsha (Indonesia), Dr. Prince Dan Mbachi (Nigeria), Dr. Nicoleta Vasilcovschi (Romania), Msweneng Mokolwen Eric (South Africa), and Engineer Oluruntoyin Sefiu Taiwo (Nigeria), who shared their research findings, experiences and perspectives on various dimensions of tribal development and sustainability.
Effective Conduct of Technical and Research Sessions
The technical and research sessions were conducted under the guidance of distinguished academics. Dr. Chandramauli, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, and Dr. Deepak, Soban Singh Jeena University, Almora, served as session chairs.
Dr. Ratan Majumdar, Port Blair, and Dr. Sheela Sridhar, Raipur, served as Vice-Chairs and contributed to the smooth conduct of the academic sessions.
The responsibilities of session moderation and coordination were efficiently handled by Dr. Shaily Ojha, Mr. Akash Kashyap, Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, and Ms. Bhawna Ratnakar.
Best Research Paper and Best Presentation Awards
As part of the concluding ceremony, ‘Best Research Paper’ and ‘Best Presentation’ awards were presented to recognize outstanding research contributions and effective academic presentations. The awards were intended to encourage researchers and participants to continue pursuing high-quality and impactful research.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Narendranath Guria, Conference Secretary, expressed his sincere gratitude to all chief guests, eminent speakers, international experts, researchers, participants and members of the organizing committee for their valuable contribution to the success of the conference.
He highlighted that the conference provided a significant platform for multidisciplinary academic dialogue on tribal development and sustainable development while connecting researchers from different parts of India and the world.
A Significant Academic Initiative from Rural Chhattisgarh
The successful conclusion of the international conference marks an important academic milestone for Chaitanya Science and Arts College, Pamgarh. With participation from more than 200 researchers and experts from India and over 10 countries, the conference demonstrated the growing role of institutions from rural regions in promoting international academic collaboration and research.
The event not only facilitated meaningful scholarly discussions on tribal development, sustainability, livelihood, education and environmental conservation, but also reinforced the message that institutions located in rural and developing regions can successfully create and host global platforms for research, knowledge exchange and academic collaboration.
