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Lucknow, Nov 13 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday inaugurated the six-day ‘Janjati Bhagidari Utsav’ to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of ‘Dharti Aaba’ Lord Birsa Munda in Lucknow.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that inspired by the heritage of Dharti Aba, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared November 15 as Tribal Pride Day.
Recalling Birsa Munda’s unforgettable contribution to India’s independence, the Chief Minister said that he led the movement against British rule and was imprisoned by the colonial government, where he died in Ranchi jail at the age of just 25.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Tribal Partnership Festival amid the sound of drums and cymbals at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. He visited the exhibition, garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda and appreciated the cultural performance of tribal artists from Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Highlighting the importance of the event, CM Yogi said that Population Pride Fortnight (November 1-15) is being celebrated across the country to integrate the tribal communities into the mainstream with respect and opportunities.
Artists from 22 states including Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and partner state Arunachal Pradesh are participating in this grand cultural gathering. The festival also includes handicrafts and art exhibitions, a food fair and a literary and development forum dedicated to tribal literature.
CM Yogi said that the level of education among tribal communities has increased significantly, due to which access to government schemes has increased. Citing the recent recruitment of 60,244 police personnel, he noted that all the posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes were successfully filled, which is a clear indicator of increasing participation and educational advancement.
Yogi Adityanath said, “All Scheduled Tribe habitations in the state are being equipped with necessary facilities under the Dharti Aaba Tribe Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. For this initiative, 47 blocks and 517 villages in 26 districts have been identified, including 176 villages in Sonbhadra, 61 in Ballia, 36 in Lalitpur, 34 villages each in Deoria, Lakhimpur Kheri and Kushinagar and others across the state. Villages are included.”
The Chief Minister said that these 517 tribal dominated villages are being linked to major welfare schemes like Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat Card, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Caste and Residence Certificate, Mudra Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Vishwakarma Yojana and Ration Card. Double Engine The government has also approved the necessary infrastructure to ensure complete coverage.
Highlighting educational empowerment, CM Yogi said, “More than 1.5 lakh Scheduled Tribe students have benefited from scholarships and fee reimbursement. Currently, nine Ashram Vidyalayas are functioning in Lakhimpur Kheri, Balrampur, Bahraich, Maharajganj, Shravasti and Bijnor, providing education to 2,026 tribal students. Additionally, two free hostels are functional, while eight more are under construction, two each in Lakhimpur. There are one each in Kheri and Chandauli and one each in Ballia, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.”
He further informed, “Eklavya Model Residential Schools are running in Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Sonbhadra, another school is opening in Lalitpur. Non-residential tribal girls in classes 6, 9 and 11 are being supported through free uniforms and cycles.”
–IANS
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