PM Modi stated that he holds the ‘Adivasi Samaj’ in high regard and emphasized that his government declared Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ to honor the community’s contributions, which had long been overlooked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has worked to ensure tribal communities receive the recognition and opportunities denied to them by previous governments.
PM Modi addressed a gathering in Bihar’s Jamui district, near the Jharkhand border, on the 150th birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Birsa Munda. The occasion was marked by the launch of tribal welfare projects valued at over ₹6,000 crore.
PM Modi stated that his government declared Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ (Tribal Pride Day) to rectify the neglect and injustice faced by tribal communities under previous governments.
Without directly naming any previous governments or political parties, PM Modi accused them of erasing the contributions of tribal communities in India’s freedom movement.
“The tribals made immense sacrifices, yet their contributions were deliberately overlooked to promote the narrative that one party and one family alone were responsible for India’s freedom. If that were true, what about the Munda movement, the Santhal rebellion, the Hul revolution, and many other tribal uprisings? How can we ignore their role? Even Chhatrapati Shivaji drew strength from tribal communities,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth over ₹6,640 crore, spanning education, healthcare, infrastructure, and housing. He also unveiled commemorative stamps and coins.
Additionally, he inaugurated two Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums and two Tribal Research Institutes, aimed at preserving and celebrating the rich history and heritage of tribal communities.
“The bravery, sacrifices, and contributions of tribal freedom fighters in India’s independence struggle are unforgettable, and it is essential for future generations to honor and cherish their legacy. Our government has recognized their contributions by conferring Padma awards and taking significant steps to preserve their culture and heritage. The NDA government has set a new benchmark for tribal development and welfare. It was the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government that first established a dedicated tribal affairs ministry and allocated a separate budget for it,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was also present at the event, for his support and appeal to other parties when the BJP-led NDA nominated Droupadi Murmu as their presidential candidate.
He commended Murmu, highlighting her commitment to tribal welfare. “As a tribal woman, she has championed numerous welfare initiatives since her tenure as Jharkhand Governor. She frequently discussed with me the importance of working for the most marginalized tribal communities—an area neglected by previous governments,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the significant increase in budget allocation for tribal welfare, from ₹25,000 crore under earlier administrations to ₹1,25,000 crore under his government.
“Modi works for those who were not on anyone’s priority and remained neglected for far too long. We designated tribal districts as aspirational, assigned the best officers, and today these districts are performing better than many others,” he added.
