PM Modi highlights poverty reduction and defeat of Naxalism as major achievements on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the emergence of nearly 50 crore people from extreme poverty and the country’s freedom from Naxalism and Maoist terror as two major national...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the emergence of nearly 50 crore people from extreme poverty and the country’s freedom from Naxalism and Maoist terror as two major national achievements, underlining their significance for tribal communities. Addressing the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programme in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, through video conferencing, he said both developments were closely connected with the lives and progress of tribal communities.
The Prime Minister said, “A few weeks ago, the World Bank report stated that nearly 50 crore people in India have emerged from extreme poverty over the past 12–13 years. This is a very large number, 50 crore people.”
“I consider this one of the greatest achievements of the country since Independence. This achievement belongs to the entire nation. The credit does not belong to any one government. Behind it is the collective strength of society, the effort and hard work of every citizen. The decisions taken by the central government and the schemes launched for tribal welfare in recent years have also played a major role in this achievement,” he added.
PM Modi said government decisions and welfare initiatives focused on tribal communities had played an important role in this transformation. He noted that the government had prioritised people who had remained deprived of development benefits for decades, particularly in remote and backward tribal regions.
The Prime Minister said more than ₹1 lakh crore had been allocated for the PM-JANMAN scheme and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan to accelerate the delivery of basic facilities to tribal families. The objective, he said, was to ensure that communities which received development benefits last after Independence would now receive them first.
Highlighting measures aimed at improving living conditions, PM Modi said more than four crore permanent houses had been built for poor families across the country, while electricity had been provided to 18,000 villages that had remained without power for decades. Under Ayushman Bharat, eligible beneficiaries were provided free healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh, while more than 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs had been established to extend healthcare services to remote areas, including tribal regions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted improvements in sanitation through the provision of toilets and the expansion of income opportunities through collateral-free loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. These initiatives, he said, had benefited poor families, Dalits, backward communities and tribal populations, giving them greater confidence to improve their livelihoods.
PM Modi also referred to development initiatives in more than 100 Aspirational Districts and over 500 Aspirational Blocks, many of which have substantial tribal populations. He said the PM Krishi Dhan Dhanya Yojana was also giving special attention to 100 districts lagging in agricultural development, with the aim of creating new opportunities for farmers, poor families and tribal communities.
Defeat of Naxalism brings new hope to tribal regions
Referring to the second major achievement, PM Modi said the country had overcome Naxalism and Maoist violence, which had caused immense suffering to tribal communities.
He recalled that around 125 districts were affected by Maoism and Naxalism in 2014, with hundreds of violent incidents taking place every year and thousands of innocent people losing their lives, many of them from tribal communities.
The Prime Minister said that governments in the past had failed to protect the rights and security of people living in Naxal-affected areas. He said tribal people had been deprived of their voting rights in some areas, while Maoist groups subjected families to violence, abducted children and targeted women and girls.
PM Modi said the defeat of Maoism and Naxalism had brought a sense of security and hope to affected communities. Mothers and sisters who now felt safe were blessing the country, while children whose childhoods had been disrupted by violence were getting opportunities for education and employment.
Referring to the changing situation in Bastar, he said he had recently celebrated Diwali with security personnel in the region, which people had once been afraid to visit. He added that this Diwali had brought not only the light of lamps but also the light of hope to former Naxal-affected areas, including Gadchiroli.
Tribal freedom fighters and cultural heritage remembered
Beginning his address with the traditional greeting “Johar”, the Prime Minister paid homage to Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary and extended greetings to people celebrating Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas across the country.
He described the occasion as a national celebration of tribal pride and the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Referring to Gadchiroli’s rich tribal heritage, he recalled the contributions of Raghuji Bhangare, Bhagoji Naik and Veer Baburao Shedmake, and paid tribute to tribal freedom fighters and leaders across the country.
PM Modi noted that Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas had been observed nationally since November 15, 2021. Last year, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, more than two lakh programmes were organised across the country, with participation from crores of citizens.
He said India was now remembering its heritage, history and heroes with indigenous self-respect, marking a significant transformation in national consciousness.
The Prime Minister recalled several tribal resistance movements and freedom fighters, including Tirot Sing’s struggle in the Khasi Hills, the Kol movement in Chota Nagpur and the Santhal revolution led by Sidho and Kanho. He also remembered the followers of Govind Guru who sacrificed their lives at Mangarh, along with Rani Gaidinliu, Tantya Bhil, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Rani Durgavati.
He said Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan and his struggle against injustice at a young age continued to inspire millions of Indians.
Projects worth ₹3,000 crore for tribal development
On the occasion, the Prime Minister announced that more than 170 projects related to tribal development had been inaugurated across different states, while foundation stones had been laid for over 70 projects.
Among the initiatives was the inauguration of a museum dedicated to freedom fighter Ropuiliani in Mizoram and a new building for the Tribal Research Institute in Arunachal Pradesh. Other projects included educational institutions, healthcare facilities, marketing centres for tribal products and initiatives to expand basic amenities in villages.
PM Modi said projects worth nearly ₹3,000 crore had been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid across the country. He congratulated the beneficiaries and people of the country on these initiatives.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing role of tribal communities in national development, noting that the country was being led by President Droupadi Murmu, a woman from the tribal community.
Call for greater participation in building Viksit Bharat
Concluding his address, PM Modi called upon citizens, particularly tribal communities, to draw inspiration from Bhagwan Birsa Munda and contribute to the goal of Viksit Bharat.
He urged people to observe November 15 every year with greater enthusiasm and at a larger scale, describing Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas as a symbol of the pride and self-respect of the entire nation.
The Prime Minister also called for taking new resolutions on the occasion and working towards fulfilling them within defined timelines. He said goals that had remained unachieved for decades after Independence must now be accomplished within a much shorter period.
Congratulating the tribal communities for their participation in the nationwide celebrations, he said the enthusiasm and scale of the observance reflected the growing recognition of tribal heritage and contributions to India’s progress.
(PIB)
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