Adivaani: AI-based translation platform for tribal languages to be launched on Sept 1

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has come up with an AI-based translation and transcription platform, Adivaani, which will be released on Monday.

The platform has been designed with the help of IIT Delhi, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Naya Raipur as well as BITS Pilani and will first cater to tribal languages including Santhali, Mundari, Bhili, Gondi, Kui and Garo.

The ministry touted the initiative as the country’s first AI-powered translator for tribal languages. It has been developed under the banner of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, the yearlong celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Birsa Munda. The platform will be available on Play Store through a dedicated web platform and an iOS version will be coming soon.

“The project combines advanced AI technologies with community-driven approaches to protect, promote, and revitalise tribal languages and cultures across India,” the ministry said in a release.

The platform is developed by a national consortium of premier institutions led by IIT Delhi with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Nava Raipur in collaboration with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya.

Apart from enabling real-time translation of text and speech between Hindi, English and tribal languages, the app will also provide interactive language learning for students and early learners, as well as digitally preserve folklore, oral traditions, and cultural heritage. The app will also be used to raise awareness on government schemes and important speeches.

Apart from providing text to text, text to speech, speech to text, speech to speech translations, the app will also provide Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for digitising manuscripts and primers as well as bilingual dictionaries and curated repositories.

Ministry officials said that the app will also provide subtitles for the Prime Minister’s speeches, as well as health advisories such as Sickle Cell Disease awareness, in addition to information on government schemes and initiatives in tribal languages.