Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, which was first observed on 15th November 2021, has now become a national celebration.
Addressing the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programme in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, through video conferencing, Prime Minister Modi said there was a time when many days and festivals in the country were determined from a foreign perspective. However, today, India is remembering its heritage, history and heroes with a sense of self-respect. He said this signifies a major shift in the national consciousness.
The Prime Minister said two major achievements of the nation are being discussed everywhere. He said the first is that nearly 500 million people in the country have overcome extreme poverty, while the second is the nation’s liberation from Naxalism and Maoist terror.
PM Modi said the Government has placed special emphasis on regions that had long lagged behind in terms of development. He said special campaigns were launched across more than 100 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks in the country, including areas with significant tribal populations. He added that, under the PM Krishi Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana, special attention is now being directed towards 100 districts that are lagging in the agricultural sector.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram also addressed the gathering in Gadchiroli. Mr Modi also interacted with selected tribal beneficiaries on the occasion.
During the programme, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 246 development projects worth around three thousand crore rupees. These projects are aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, livelihoods and community infrastructure for tribal communities across the country.
PM Modi inaugurated 173 projects, including 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal students and 100 Multi-Purpose Centres. These centres, under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), will serve as hubs for service delivery and community activities.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stones of 19 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools and 12 Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs). He also inaugurated various other projects under PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). The Prime Minister further laid the foundation stones of 42 other projects under PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.
PM Modi also inaugurated the Tribal Research Institute building in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Mizoram, aimed at preserving tribal culture and heritage.
The programme marked the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, observed across the country from 1st November to today.
