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The International Indigenous Peoples Day was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994. It was decided that the International Indigenous People Day shall be observed on 9 August every year. By following this, on 17 September 2010, during the Annual General Body Meeting of the National Council of Churches in India in Bangalore, for the first-time announced observance of the NCCI-Tribal and Adivasi Sunday.  Since 2011, every year the Indian Church is celebrating this day with special Liturgy designed along with the theme for the year.  This year the theme for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is ‘Leaving No One Behind’ (1 Corinthians 10:24).

The Bible Society of India joined hands with the National Council of Churches in India in observing 9^th August 2021 as the Tribal and Adivasi Day. Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. M. Mani Chacko, the General Secretary of the Bible Society of India, a very meaningful worship was conducted through the Department of Church Relations and Resource Mobilization. All the 16 Auxiliaries from various parts of India and the Central Office in Bangalore participated in the programmed virtually in solidarity with the Tribal and Adivasi people in India. Special songs and dance (video clipping) from the auxiliaries had added colors and joy of the worship service. Bishop Anand Sebeyan Hermon, who is a retired Bishop of the Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church, Odisha was our guest speaker for this occasion with the message of justice, peace, dignity and equality of all people. Rev. Dr. M. Mani Chacko, in his final remarks and closing prayer re-iterated the responsibility of the Church and Christian Institutions and Organizations to get actively involved in responding to a call for doing right to those who are wronged and bringing justice for those who are facing the onslaught of systematic and social injustice and discriminations like the people of the Tribals and Adivasis in India.