BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently working towards the upliftment of the tribal communities in the country. His policies reflect a deep commitment to safeguarding the interests of the tribal population. For the first time, under his leadership, the nation began celebrating Janjatiya Gourav Divas on November 15, commemorating the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to preserve and promote the rich traditions and culture of the tribal people are evident.
Following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government in Odisha, under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has decided to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in a grand manner throughout the year. This decision was made during a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan. This year marks the fourth observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, which has been celebrated nationwide since 2021. As part of the initiative, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary will be observed for a year, starting from November 15. The celebrations will include efforts to promote tribal art, culture, heritage, and history, alongside programs focused on education, skill development, and health awareness. Additionally, measures will be taken to safeguard tribal livelihoods and foster economic growth.
As per the decisions made in the meeting, the year-long celebration will begin on November 15, 2024, in Rourkela. The opening week will feature various events, including the honoring of successful tribal figures and the screening of short films on tribal freedom fighters. A web portal related to the Forest Rights Act will also be launched, with the allocation of land leases taking place. The festivities will include a range of cultural programs.
Throughout the year, several initiatives will focus on promoting tribal handicrafts, marketing products made by tribal artisans, raising awareness about sickle cell anemia, and organizing conferences for tribal poets and writers. Workshops on forest rights laws, the sharing of traditional healthcare practices, and knowledge-sharing conferences for tribal communities will also be part of the program. Additional initiatives will be developed by various government departments and implemented at both the district level and in the capital, Bhubaneswar. The meeting also emphasized organizing this year’s tribal fair in Bhubaneswar on a much larger scale.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized the importance of driving economic progress for tribal communities, in addition to the various programs aimed at promoting art, culture, and education. He called for coordinated efforts across departments to safeguard the livelihoods of tribal people.
The meeting saw the participation of Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Nikunj Bihari Dhal, Additional Principal Secretary for Home and Forest & Environment Satyabrata Sahu, Principal Secretary for Scheduled Tribe and Caste Welfare Vishnupad Sethi, Chief Administrative Secretary of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Sushil Kumar Lohani, along with senior officials from other departments.
It is worth noting that in honor of the sacrifices made by tribal freedom fighters and to preserve their legacy, the Union Government designated the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, starting from November 15, 2021.
