Sonbhadra / Lucknow. Even though the previous governments have neglected the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe community in Uttar Pradesh, but today under the leadership of PM Modi, the Central and State Governments are working together in mission mode with full commitment to give their rights to every tribal community. So far, 23 thousand 335 families have been given forest rights lease here. On this occasion, the Chief Minister assured that whoever comes in the category of this eligibility, will work to provide patta to them within a time limit. The government will work with full sincerity and commitment for the upliftment and economic self-reliance of the districts where the tribal community is in large numbers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said these things on the occasion of ‘Tribal Pride Day’ organized on the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda in Sonbhadra. On this occasion, under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, he also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for distribution of pattas and 233 projects worth Rs 575 crore. Also unveiled a coffee table book based on 12 tribes. Earlier, he administered Annaprashan to some children and saw the exhibition of local products.
The tribal community is the protector of the forests as well as the custodian.
At the beginning of his address, Chief Minister Yogi bowed down to Birsa Munda and said that we are grateful to PM Modi who gave us the opportunity to celebrate it as a celebration by connecting with our past on November 15 as Tribal Pride Day. The tribal community is that important community of India, which by connecting with the Mother Earth has given meaning to this Vedic declaration that Mata Bhoomi: Putro Aham Prithivya: This earth is our mother and we are its sons. No harm should be done to Mother Earth. Our tribal community is the protector and protector of the forests as well.
Tribal community getting their rights
CM Yogi said that during the period of independence, when the country was a slave, there were countless atrocities on the tribal community of India. They were deprived of their rights, tortured. Somewhere Queen Durgavati had to be sacrificed and somewhere Lord Birsa Munda had to be sacrificed. After the formation of the double engine government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, under the leadership of PM Modi, we worked to take the scheme of governance to every section of the society without discrimination. I am happy to inform that Panchayat elections were held here for the first time after independence by recognizing Vantangia village as a revenue village. After we took the initiative, now every Vantangia family has its own pucca house. Today there is electricity, there is also potable drinking water. Be it ration facility, pension facility, Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, schools, all these have been constructed there. Those who have the right, they must get it.
Medical college of Banda being built in the name of Maharani Durgavati
He said that 13 tribes reside in Sonbhadra. Sonbhadra has the distinction that it has maintained its existence even fighting the challenges of nature with the origin of mankind. I am happy to inform that our government has also named the medical college of Banda after Maharani Durgavati ji. Medical college is being constructed in Sonbhadra. The scheme of every household tap is also being realized. The government has decided that whether it is Tharu, Cheru, Kol, Musahar, Bhuiyan, Ahariya or any other caste or tribe, they will be given forest rights lease and housing.
Working in mission mode
Giving information about the schemes of the government, the Chief Minister said that today electricity is being supplied to your place. Solar panels are being provided where there was a problem in providing electricity. Good connectivity is being given. District Administration and Forest Department are making joint efforts in mission mode. The result of this is that good educational institutions are opening. Eklavya schools are being constructed, Ashram school is being constructed, physically and virtually free coaching is being provided for SC, ST and general category children through Abhyudaya coaching. Along with this, by constructing hostels on a large scale for the children of scheduled castes and tribes, their residential arrangements are being ensured in urban areas.
Connect tribal community with eco tourism
Thanking the voluntary organization Seva Samarpan Sansthan, CM Yogi said that after independence, this organization worked sincerely for the rights of its tribal brothers by connecting them with the mainstream of the nation. I would appeal to open such institutes here, which work on forest medicines. All types of eco-tourism can also be developed here. People of tribal community can be connected to it. Train them as guides. We should present the old Vaidyas associated with the tribal community in front of the society, identifying each herb through them, connecting them with the experts of Ayurveda and then emphasizing on the production of those herbs along with the museum. We have to take this program forward. The state government will extend full cooperation for all these programmes.
Who was Birsa Munda?
Birsa Munda was a prominent tribal leader of the 19th century. Under his leadership, the Munda tribals carried out the great Munda movement in the last years of the 19th century. Born on 15 November 1875 in Ulihatu village of Ranchi, Jharkhand, Birsa Munda’s mind used to think about the bad condition of his society by the British rulers since childhood. On October 1, 1894, as a young leader, he gathered all the Mundas and agitated for waiver of rent from the British. Birsa was arrested on 3 February 1900 at Chakradharpur. He took his last breath on 9 June 1900 in Ranchi Jail. Even today Birsa Munda is worshiped like a god in the tribal areas of Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.