Making a reference, Speaker Meira Kumar said the indigenous people, who were referred as tribals in the country, were a "invaluable and integral part" of the country's rich cultural heritage.
Tribals and their culture, which is a repository of wisdom and knowledge from the days of yore, need to be protected and empowered, she said.
The United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution, had decided in 1994 that the international day of the world's indigenous people would be observed every year.
