PM’s speech during Janjatiya Gaurav Divas programme in Jamui, Bihar

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

I will say Bhagwan Birsa Munda – you say Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Honorable Governor of Bihar, Shri Rajendra Arlekar ji, the popular Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar ji, my colleagues from the Union cabinet, Jual Oram ji, Jitan Ram Manjhi ji, Giriraj Singh ji, Chirag Paswan ji, and Durgadas Uikey ji, and it is our privilege that today we have descendants of Birsa Munda ji among us. Although there is a major religious observance at their home today. Despite their family being busy with the rituals, Budhram Munda ji has joined us, and we are equally honoured to have Mandal Murmu ji, a descendant of Sidhu Kanhu, with us. It is also a matter of joy for me to say that if there is the most senior leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party today, it is our Kariya Munda ji, who once served as Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is a Padma Vibhushan awardee, and still guides us. As Jual Oram ji mentioned, he is like a father figure to me. Kariya Munda ji has specially travelled here from Jharkhand. Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and my friend Vijay Kumar Sinha ji, Samrat Chaudhary ji, ministers of the Bihar government, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, other public representatives, distinguished guests from all corners of the country, and my dear brothers and sisters from Jamui.

Today, many chief ministers, governors, state ministers, and ministers of the central government are attending significant events across different districts of Bharat, and I welcome them all. I also extend greetings to millions of my tribal brothers and sisters who have joined us virtually. I bow to this sacred land of Geet Gaur Durga Mai and Baba Dhaneshwar Nath. I salute the birthplace of Lord Mahavira. Today is a very auspicious day. It is Kartik Purnima, Dev Deepawali, and the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji. I congratulate all the citizens on these festivals. Today is historic for every citizen of the country for another reason. Today marks the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, celebrated as Rashtriya Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (National Tribal Pride Day). I congratulate all the citizens, especially my tribal brothers and sisters, on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. I have been informed that before these festivals, there has been a major cleanliness drive in Jamui for the past two to three days. The administration led the campaign, and our Vijay ji camped here. BJP workers also conducted a significant cleanliness drive. The citizens, youth, mothers, and sisters contributed enthusiastically. I greatly appreciate the people of Jamui for this special effort.

Friends,

On this day last year, I was in the village of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda, Ulihatu. Today, I am on the land that witnessed the valour of martyr Tilka Manjhi. This event is even more special this year. Starting today, the country will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, which will continue for a year. I am pleased that about one crore people from hundreds of districts are connected to this program through technology, making it a proud moment for the people of Jamui. I extend my greetings to all of them. Earlier, I had the honour of welcoming Budhram Munda ji, a descendant of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. A few days ago, I also had the privilege of honouring Shri Mandal Murmu ji, a descendant of Sidhu Kanhu. Their presence has further enhanced the splendour of this event.

Friends,

Amid this grand remembrance of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda, foundation stones and inaugurations for projects worth more than six thousand crore rupees have been held today. This includes the approval for about one and a half lakh permanent homes for my tribal brothers and sisters, schools for tribal children’s future, hostels, health facilities for tribal women, hundreds of kilometres of roads connecting tribal areas, museums dedicated to tribal culture, and research centres. Over 11,000 tribal families are entering their new homes today on Dev Deepawali. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the tribal families for this.

Friends,

As we celebrate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and begin Janjatiya Gaurav Year, it is important to understand why this event was necessary. It is an honest effort to correct a great injustice in history. The contribution of the tribal community was not given the recognition in history it deserved after independence. The tribal community is the one that transformed Prince Ram into Lord Ram. The tribal community is the one that led the centuries-long fight to protect Bharat’s culture and freedom. However, in the decades following independence, attempts were made to erase this invaluable contribution from the tribal history, driven by selfish politics to give credit for Bharat’s freedom solely to one party. But if only one party or family secured independence, then why did the Ulgulan movement led by Birsa Munda happen? What was the Santhal Rebellion? What was the Kol Rebellion? Can we forget the valiant Bhils who fought alongside Maharana Pratap? Who can forget the tribal brothers and sisters who empowered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the dense forests of the Sahyadri? Can anyone overlook the service of Mother India by the tribals under Alluri Sitarama Raju, or the bravery of Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu Kanhu, Budhu Bhagat, Dheeraj Singh, Telanga Kharia, Govind Guru, Ramji Gond of Telangana, Badal Bhoi, Raja Shankar Shah, Kumar Raghunath Shah from Madhya Pradesh, Tantya Bhil, Nilamber-Pitamber, Veer Narayan Singh, Diva Kishun Soren, Jatra Bhagat, Laxman Nayak, and the great freedom fighter from Mizoram, Ropuiliani ji, Rajmohini Devi, Rani Gaidinliu, Veer Balika Kalibai, and Queen Durgavati of Gondwana? How can anyone forget these countless tribal heroes? Can we forget the massacre at Mangarh, where thousands of my tribal brothers and sisters were martyred by the British?

Friends,

Whether it’s culture or social justice, the mindset of today’s NDA government is unique. I consider it not just the fortune of the BJP but of the entire NDA that we got the opportunity to make Droupadi Murmu the President. She is the first tribal President of the country. I remember when the NDA decided to nominate Droupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate, our Nitish Babu appealed to people across the country to ensure her victory by a significant margin. The PM JANMAN Yojana, under which many initiatives have begun, is also credited to President Droupadi Murmu. When she was the Governor of Jharkhand and later as President, she often discussed with me the marginalized tribal communities. The previous governments never cared about these most backward tribal communities. To ease the difficulties in their lives, the PM JANMAN Yojana, with an investment of 24,000 crore rupees, was launched. The PM JANMAN Yojana ensures the development of the most backward tribal settlements in the country. Today marks one year of this scheme. During this time, we have provided thousands of permanent houses to these marginalized tribal communities. Hundreds of kilometres of roads have been constructed to connect the settlements of these communities, and water supply has been ensured to every house in hundreds of villages of the backward tribal areas.

Friends,

Those whom no one paid attention to, Modi serves. Due to the attitude of previous governments, the tribal community was deprived of basic facilities for decades. Many districts with a significant tribal population lagged in development. If an officer needed to be punished or posted as a punishment, such districts were chosen for their postings. The NDA government changed this mindset of the old governments. We declared these districts as aspirational districts and sent new and energetic officers there. I am satisfied that today many aspirational districts have surpassed other districts on various development parameters. This has greatly benefited my tribal brothers and sisters.

Friends,

Tribal welfare has always been a priority for the NDA government. It was the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji that created a separate ministry for tribal welfare. Ten years ago, the budget for the development of tribal areas and families was less than 25,000 crore rupees. Just look at the situation a decade ago—less than 25,000 crore rupees. Our government has increased this fivefold to 1.25 lakh crore rupees. Just a few days ago, we launched a special plan for the development of over sixty thousand tribal villages in the country. Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, around 80,000 crore rupees will be invested in tribal villages. The aim is not only to provide necessary facilities to the tribal community but also to create training and employment opportunities for the youth. This campaign will establish tribal marketing centres in various places, assist in building homestays, and provide training. This will boost tourism in tribal areas and foster eco-tourism among tribal families in forests, thereby stopping migration and promoting tourism growth.

Friends,

Our government has also taken numerous steps to preserve the tribal heritage. Many individuals dedicated to tribal art and culture have been honoured with Padma awards. We have started a grand museum in Ranchi named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda. I urge all school students to visit and study this museum dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. I am pleased that today the Badal Bhoi Museum in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and the Raja Shankar Shah and Kunwar Raghunath Shah Museum in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, have been inaugurated. Today, two tribal research centres in Srinagar and Sikkim have also been inaugurated, and commemorative coins and postal stamps in memory of Bhagwan Birsa Munda have been issued. These efforts will continue to remind the country of the valour and pride of the tribal community.

Friends,

The tribal community has a significant contribution to Bharat’s ancient medical practices. This heritage is being preserved and new dimensions are being added for future generations. The NDA government has established the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa in Leh and upgraded the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research in Arunachal Pradesh. The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is also being established in Bharat. This will help spread the traditional medical practices of Bharat’s tribal communities worldwide.

Friends,

Our government is focusing heavily on education, employment, and healthcare for the tribal community. Today, whether it is becoming doctors, engineers, soldiers, or airplane pilots, tribal sons and daughters are excelling in every profession. This has been possible because over the past decade, better educational opportunities have been created in tribal areas, from schools to higher education. Even after six or seven decades of independence, there was only one Central Tribal University in the country. In the last 10 years, the NDA government has given the nation two new Central Tribal Universities. Many degree colleges, engineering colleges, and ITIs have been established in districts with a significant tribal population. Over the past 10 years, 30 new medical colleges have been established in tribal districts, with work ongoing for several more. A new medical college is being built here in Jamui as well. We are building a robust network of over 700 Eklavya Schools across the country.

Friends,

Language has been a significant barrier for the tribal community in medical, engineering, and technical education. Our government has provided the option of exams in the mother tongue. These decisions have given new confidence to the children of the tribal community and have set their dreams soaring.

Friends,

In the last decade, tribal youth have also excelled in sports. Tribal athletes have made significant contributions to winning medals for Bharat in international tournaments. Recognizing this talent, sports facilities are being expanded in tribal areas. Under the Khelo India campaign, modern sports complexes are being built in tribal-dominated districts. Bharat’s first National Sports University has also been established in Manipur.

Friends,

For 70 years after independence, the laws related to bamboo were stringent, affecting the tribal community the most. Our government simplified the laws related to bamboo cutting. Under the previous government, only 8-10 forest products were covered under MSP. It is the NDA government that has brought nearly 90 forest products under the MSP ambit. Today, more than 4,000 Van Dhan centres are operating across the country, involving 12 lakh tribal brothers and sisters. They have found a better means of livelihood.

Friends,

Since the launch of the Lakhpati Didi campaign, around 20 lakh tribal sisters have become Lakhpati Didis. This does not mean they have earned just one lakh rupees once; rather, they earn more than one lakh rupees every year. Many tribal families are engaged in making beautiful items like clothes, toys, and decorative goods. To support them, we are organizing haat bazaars in major cities for such products. There is also a large haat set up here, and it is worth seeing. I spent half an hour there, amazed at the remarkable items created by our tribal brothers and sisters from different districts of Bharat. I urge you all to visit and, if inspired, make a purchase. We are also creating a global online market for these products. When I present gifts to foreign leaders, I often include items crafted by our tribal brothers and sisters. Recently, I gifted Sohrai paintings from Jharkhand, Gond paintings from Madhya Pradesh, and Warli paintings from Maharashtra to prominent foreign leaders. Now, these artworks will be seen adorning the walls of their offices, spreading the fame of your talent and art worldwide.

Friends,

The benefits of education and earning can only be realized when families remain healthy. Sickle cell anemia has been a significant challenge for the tribal community. Our government has launched a national campaign to combat this, which has been running for one year now. During this period, approximately 4.5 crore people have been screened. To ensure that tribal families do not have to travel far for other medical check-ups, numerous Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are being set up. Mobile medical units are also being deployed in the most remote areas.

Friends,

Today, Bharat has become a major name globally in the fight against climate change and environmental protection. This is because the core values of the tribal community have always taught us to live in harmony with nature. I strive to share the teachings of our nature-loving tribal society with the world. The tribal community worships the sun, wind, and trees. On this auspicious day, I wish to share that Birsa Munda Janjatiya Gaurav Upvans (Tribal Pride Gardens) will be established in the tribal-dominated districts of the country in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Each of these Birsa Munda Janjatiya Gaurav Upvans will have 500-1,000 trees planted. I am confident that everyone will support and contribute to this initiative.

Friends,

The celebration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary inspires us to set significant goals. Together, we will make the tribal ethos the foundation of a new Bharat. We will preserve the heritage of the tribal community and learn from the traditions they have safeguarded for centuries. By doing this, we will build a truly strong, prosperous, and capable Bharat. Once again, I extend my heartfelt wishes to you all on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. Once again, you will repeat after me —

I will say Bhagwan Birsa Munda – you will say Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Bhagwan Birsa Munda –Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe!

Thank you very much!