Lagatar24 Desk
Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday emphasized the long-standing neglect of tribal communities in India post-Independence and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to promote their development. Speaking at an event in Ahwa, Dang district, to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Patel lauded the schemes launched under Modi’s leadership to uplift tribal communities.
Tribals and Development: A Historical Gap
“Tribals in the country were deprived of development for decades after India’s independence. Then, PM Modi started a new era of politics of development, which benefited every citizen. He also started this tradition of celebrating Munda’s birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas,” said Patel.
The day, observed annually on November 15, honors the contributions of tribal communities, particularly their role in India’s freedom struggle, marking the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal leader and freedom fighter.
Development Projects Launched
At the event, CM Patel inaugurated key development projects for Dang district, including:
•Resurfacing a 42 km road from Vaghai to Saputara at a cost of ₹39.62 crore.
•Resurfacing 27 internal roads at a cost of ₹49.41 crore.
Patel highlighted the success of the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna, introduced in 2007 by Modi during his tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister, which paved the way for overall tribal development through infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, and colleges in tribal-dominated areas.
“In 2021, we launched the second phase of Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore to further enhance tribal welfare. I assure you that development works in tribal areas will not be hampered due to a shortage of funds,” Patel added.
National-Level Tribal Welfare Initiatives
Patel also acknowledged the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), which has benefited 1.5 lakh tribal people in Gujarat. He further noted that the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan aims to uplift nearly five crore tribals in over 63,000 villages nationwide.
The chief minister reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering tribal communities and ensuring inclusive development through sustained efforts and adequate resource allocation.
