Established in 1972 as the Tribal Research and Training Centre, the Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS) is a government organization located in Chevayur, Kozhikode, Kerala. In 1979, it was renamed as KIRTADS to reflect its expanded focus on research, training, and development for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The main objective of KIRTADS is to carry out research to facilitate the development of scheduled communities in Kerala. It also focuses on identifying the needs and challenges faced by marginalized populations and providing recommendations to the government for their advancement. Additionally, KIRTADS strives to promote and revitalize traditional indigenous art forms including costumes, jewelry, household utensils, fishing nets and traps, bows and arrows, musical instruments, wood carvings, hut models, medicinal plants, agricultural tools, and more.