Janjatiya Gaurav Divas observes in Dhalai, union minister highlights role of Virsa Munda

Marking the 150th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter and tribal leader Birsa Munda on Friday (November 15)  was celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) across the country. The occasion saw vibrant celebrations in village committee offices and Gram Panchayats nationwide with the Special Gram Sabha Cum Orientation Training Programme on various topics organized to honour tribal heritage and contributions.

Along with the entire nation, the 4th Janjatiya Gaurav Divas was also observed in Ambassa, the district headquarters of Dhalai, where a live programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the day was also telecasted.

During the Dhalai district wise programme, Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution along with Sabhadipati of  Dhalai Zilla Parishad, Sushmita Das, MLA Swapna Das Paul, MDC Bhumika Nanda Reading and District Magistrate (DM) Saju Vahid along with other dignitaries.

Speaking in the programme, Union Minister Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya stressed the importance of the rule of Bhagavan Virsa Munda for freedom struggle to the young generation of the country.

Birsa Munda is an inspiration to the 140 crore population from Kashmir to Kanyakumari even today. That is why without mentioning the role of the indigenous people our history is incomplete. Many of the indigenous people of our country had sacrificed their lives for freedom of the country, said Smt. Nimuben and added that since the coming of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, on the one hand the contribution of Birsa Munda was acknowledged and on the other hand and the development of entire Northeast region has also been highlighted by the Modi government to motto of ‘ Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Bikash’.

In Tripura's Dhalai district, various locations witnessed grand events under the initiative with support from the Piramal Foundation. The district administration in collaboration with local communities hosted a series of activities aimed at raising awareness and promoting sustainable development.

The day’s programs included tree plantation drives, honouring senior citizens of the community and workshops on critical topics like the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act of 1996, the nine themes of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Forest Rights Act (FRA), and Participatory Development Index (PDI) scores. These workshops aimed to educate the tribal population on their rights and development initiatives.

 Further, participants took oaths on de-addiction and cleanliness, reinforcing the government's commitment to a healthier and cleaner society. The gatherings also included a reading of the Constitution's Preamble, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, which concluded the day’s events.

The Gram Sabhas saw enthusiastic participation from villagers, reflecting a deep sense of community pride and unity. Local leaders and community members lauded the initiative, emphasizing the importance of preserving tribal culture and heritage while promoting progress and inclusivity.