TN Invites Entries for Best Adi Dravidar/Tribal Writers Award 2025-26

PRESS RELEASE Under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Arts and Literature Development Society, which functions under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, works of 11 outstanding writers are selected each year and grants are given to publish their literary works. Of these, 9 writers belonging to the Adi Dravidar/Tribal/converted Adi Dravidar communities are selected, along with one writer not belonging to the Adi Dravidar/Tribal community who writes about Adi Dravidar/Tribal issues, and one writer (whether Adi Dravidar/Tribal or otherwise) who writes about tribal communities. To encourage this, a grant of Rs.1,00,000/- each is given to publish their outstanding literary work, subject to the following conditions. 1. There is no age limit for writers. 2. The work may be a story, essay, poem, history or novel. However, the work must be in Tamil. A Tamil translation of an outstanding work from another language is also acceptable. 3. Research papers prepared for M.Phil., Ph.D. and similar courses must be of exceptionally special merit. 4. Works must not be less than 90 pages. 5. Applications using works already published in the market are not permitted. 6. A writer selected once for the award may apply again only after 5 years. 7. The decision of the expert committee constituted by the Government regarding the selection of works shall be final. Those wishing to apply under this scheme for the year 2025-26 can obtain application forms from the respective District Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare offices and from the Directorate of Adi Dravidar Welfare on working days. Applications can also be downloaded from the website tn.gov.in or from the link https://cms.tn.gov.in/cms_migrated/document/forms/best_writers_award_application_form_2025_2026.pdf. The last date to apply is 31.08.2026. Applicants are requested to submit their work in the prescribed form, in two copies and in digital format, without fail mentioning their mobile number, and send it within the stipulated time to the Director, Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Chennai-05. *************** Issued By: - Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9