The Prime Minister used the historic occasion in Dediapada, Gujarat, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for significant infrastructure and development projects valued at over Rs 9,700 crore, dedicated to tribal welfare and national progress.
File Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday anchored the nationwide celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, marking the sacred 150th birth anniversary of the revered tribal freedom fighter, Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
The Prime Minister used the historic occasion in Dediapada, Gujarat, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for significant infrastructure and development projects valued at over Rs 9,700 crore, dedicated to tribal welfare and national progress.
Advertisement
The Prime Minister began the day with a special visit to the Devmogra Temple to perform pooja and darshan, seeking blessings for the nation.
Advertisement
Addressing the gathering in Dediapada, Shri Modi drew a parallel between today’s event and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel celebrated previously at the same venue, stating, “With the grand celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda today, we are witnessing the culmination of Bharat Parv.”
He paid homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and also offered respects to Govind Guru, who awakened the spirit of freedom in the tribal belt, and Sant Kabir, whose teachings inspire the region.
Highlighting the government’s unwavering focus on tribal communities, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the designation of November 15th as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in 2021 was a recognition of a long-neglected truth.
”Tribal pride has been an integral part of India’s consciousness for thousands of years. Whenever the nation’s honour, self-respect, and freedom were at stake, the tribal communities stood at the forefront,” the Prime Minister stated.
He passionately recounted the sacrifices of countless tribal heroes like Tilka Manjhi, Rani Gaidinliu, and Alluri Sitarama Raju, emphasizing that the tribal community “led countless revolts and shed their blood for the nation’s freedom.”
The Prime Minister strongly criticized previous governments, saying, “The opposition party, which ruled the country for six decades, left the tribal communities to their fate,” noting the suffering from malnutrition, poor healthcare, and inadequate education.
”We affirmed the government’s unwavering resolve to end the injustices faced by tribal communities and to ensure that the benefits of development reach them,” he declared, citing the multifold increase in the budget for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs since his government came to power.
The Prime Minister presided over the Grih Pravesh (house warming) ceremony for 100,000 houses built under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JAGUA).
He inaugurated 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) worth around Rs 1,900 crore and laid the foundation stone for 50 new EMRS (over Rs 2,320 crore). The establishment of the Shri Govind Guru Chair for Tribal Language Promotion Centre was announced, focused on studying and preserving tribal dialects and traditions.
The Prime Minister flagged off 250 buses for 14 tribal districts and laid the foundation stone for 748 km of new roads to enhance rural connectivity.
PM Modi highlighted the ongoing national campaign to combat sickle cell disease, which has already screened six crore tribal citizens. He also mentioned the increase in Minor Forest Produce items and Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Janjatiya Kalyan Yojana.
The Prime Minister underscored the government’s resolve to ensure meaningful tribal participation in all sectors. “It is the government’s aim to see members of the tribal community rise to top positions and lead the nation,” he affirmed.
He pointed to the fact that the President of India is a tribal woman and noted that tribal leaders are now serving as Chief Ministers and holding key positions across the country, citing examples like Shri Vishnudev Sai in Chhattisgarh and Shri Mohan Charan Majhi in Odisha.
The Prime Minister called upon the nation to reaffirm its commitment to the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, stating, “On the sacred occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, let us reaffirm our commitment to this mantra… This is the true tribute to Dharti Aaba.”
Advertisement
