Previous govts ignored tribals as they focused on promoting ‘one party, one family’: PM Modi

IANS

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged on Friday that though tribals had played an important role in the freedom struggle, their contribution was undermined by previous governments which gave primacy to promoting “one party, one family”, alluding to the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family. He launched tribal welfare projects worth Rs 6,640 crore to mark the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.

Addressing a programme at Jamui in Bihar to mark the occasion, the prime minister asserted that his government has taken various steps to alleviate the lives of tribals. Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. Modi unveiled a postal stamp and commemorative coin in honour of Birsa Munda.

“Tribals have played their role in preserving the country’s cultural heritage since times immemorial. It was the ‘Adivasi Samaj’ that helped the evolution of Lord Rama from a prince to a god,” the prime minister said.

He hailed the role and sacrifice of tribals in the Independence movement but lamented that this was not given due recognition by previous (read Congress) governments.

“Tribals also played a significant role in the struggle for Independence. But the previous governments deliberately tried to suppress this fact so that all credit was given to one party and one family,” Modi said, adding, “If only one party and one family were to be given credit, who would remember Birsa Munda and Tilka Manjhi (an 18th-century Santhal leader)?”

He, however, did not mention the Nehru-Gandhi family or the Congress.

Modi asserted that he worshipped the ‘Adivasi Samaj’ and his government took the decision to celebrate Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Janjaatiya Gaurav Divas’ (the day of glory for tribals) because the community never got its due.

Several steps have been taken by his government for the upliftment of tribals, he asserted. These include declaring districts with a high population of the community as ‘aspirational’.

“We are committed to ensuring better education, health and job opportunities (padhai, kamai aur dawaai) for tribals. To this end, the budget for tribal welfare has been raised to Rs 1.25 lakh crore by my government. Earlier, it was a meagre Rs 25,000 crore,” he said.

A tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, is the president of the country today, Modi said, and thanked Bihar Chief Minister and JDU supremo Nitish Kumar for supporting her candidature.

With elections on in Jharkhand, the prime minister also took digs at the JMM-Congress government in the state. He said as governor of Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu used to often express concern over the challenges faced by the tribals in Jharkhand but the parties in power in the state did not care.

“Today, we have launched PM- JANMAN Yojana, for targeted growth of the most backward tribals, a scheme involving Rs 24,000 crore. The credit for the scheme also goes to Murmu, whose election to the highest constitutional office is a matter of pride for not just the BJP, but the entire NDA,” he said. This scheme is aimed at the welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).

The prime minister emphasised that there is much to imbibe from the tribal communities, including their value system, traditional system of medicine, and an environment-friendly way of living which is very important when the world is facing the challenges of climate change.

The government has taken several measures for the welfare of tribals, including opening of 700 Eklavya schools, facilitating training of over 20 lakh Lakhpati Didis, screening of 4.5 crore tribals for sickle cell anaemia, opening Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs for provide healthcare in tribal villages, and so on.

“Our government has also taken steps to preserve the cultural heritage of tribals. Several artists from the community have been conferred with Padma awards. A museum named after Birsa Munda has been set up in Ranchi,” he pointed out.

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