Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav becomes a celebration of tribal culture, tradition and pride; colours of cultural diversity spread across Khatima
Rich tribal heritage, culture and traditions from Uttarakhand and across the country showcased at Aadi Rangotsav
Chief Minister Dhami joins artists in traditional celebrations, dances with them and himself plays the dhol
State Government Committed to Respect, Empowerment and Self-Reliance of Tribal Society: Chief Minister
Centre to provide Rs 10 crore for expansion and facilities at Khatima Eklavya Residential School: Jual Oram
Chief Minister requests Union Ministers to establish an Eklavya Residential School in Pithoragarh region
Cultures of Tharu, Boksa, Jaunsari, Raji and other tribal communities give message of ‘One India, Best India’
The grand inauguration of the three-day Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav was held in Khatima. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp. On this occasion, tribal artists who came from different states of the country presented a rich glimpse of tribal heritage through their traditional attire, folk dances, folk music and cultural performances.
During the programme, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed and honoured Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram by presenting them plants and a statue of Maharana Pratap. The Chief Minister also extended his best wishes on stage to the artists of the film ‘Hanuman Ansh’ and honoured them by presenting a plant, Lord Hanuman’s mace and a picture of Neem Karoli Baba.
During Aadi Rangotsav, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also seen immersed in the traditional cultural spirit. He danced along with the artists and encouraged them, and also played the dhol, expressing his connection with and respect for tribal culture. The Chief Minister’s spontaneous style especially boosted the enthusiasm of the people and artists present at the programme.
Aadi Rangotsav is a symbol of tribal culture and pride: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that being present among the people on the occasion of the inauguration of Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav was a moment of pride for him. He said the festival was not merely a cultural programme, but a celebration of the rich culture, traditions and pride of tribal society. Such events are an important medium for presenting the distinctive cultural heritage of different tribal communities before the country and the world, while also connecting the new generation with its roots and traditions.
The Chief Minister thanked Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram for his support in the development of Eklavya residential schools and for announcing Rs 10 crore for the modernisation and expansion of the Eklavya Residential School at Khatima. He also requested Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Jual Oram to establish an Eklavya Residential School in the Pithoragarh region.
The Chief Minister said that Jual Oram had been working for the interests and welfare of tribal society for a long time. Under his leadership, important work had been undertaken in the tribal areas of the country in the fields of education, development and social empowerment. He said that during the roadshow in Khatima, he witnessed many colours of diverse cultures and traditions. Khatima is itself a mini-India, where the cultures and traditions of different communities can be seen together.
The Chief Minister said the state government was continuously working to empower tribal society and make it self-reliant by connecting it with education, health, employment and basic facilities. The government’s effort was to connect tribal communities with the mainstream of development while preserving their cultural identity and traditions.
Emphasis on connecting tribal families with housing and basic facilities
The Chief Minister said the state government had made the income limit under the Atal Awas Yojana practical and had also increased the cost of housing construction so that more eligible families could benefit from it. In Udham Singh Nagar district, assistance of more than Rs 3 crore had been provided under the scheme.
He said a large number of tribal families were also benefiting under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Of the applications received this year for housing under the scheme, around 28 per cent were from families belonging to tribal society. The Chief Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana, 824 houses had been constructed in the first phase and 101 houses in the second phase.
Important work being undertaken for tribal society in education
The Chief Minister said the state government was also continuously working for the development of tribal society in the field of education. Crores of rupees had been provided for the development of Ashram Paddhati schools, hostels and ITI institutions.
He said a 100-bed boys’ hostel was being constructed in Bajpur. The school was being constructed at a cost of more than Rs 16 crore, while Rs 4 crore had also been sanctioned for the girls’ hostel. Along with this, beautification and modernisation work of Tharu Government Inter College was also being carried out.
Congratulations to Mohan Singh Rana and Teela Sen for conquering Mount Everest
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated and extended his best wishes to BSF personnel Mohan Singh Rana, a resident of Anjania village in Khatima, and Teela Sen, daughter of Charubeta, for conquering Mount Everest. He said both had enhanced not only the honour of the Tharu community but of the entire Uttarakhand through their achievement. Their accomplishments were an inspiration for the youth.
The Chief Minister said the state government was working to provide employment and training to tribal society through the National Rural Livelihood Mission. Tribal communities were being economically empowered by connecting their products with markets, promoting their marketing, and providing revolving funds and investment assistance.
He said that under the Chief Minister’s Border Area Development Programme, various schemes worth more than Rs 10 crore had been implemented on the ground from 2020 to 2025.
The Chief Minister said the state government did not remain limited to announcements but worked to implement schemes on the ground. Schemes started by the government were not left midway; instead, continuous attention was given to their effective implementation and ensuring that their benefits reached the last person.
Rs 10 crore announced for Khatima Eklavya School: Jual Oram
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, addressing the public meeting, recalled the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reiterated the Central Government’s commitment to the development of tribal society. He said that after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister in 1999, a separate ministry for tribal affairs was established. Its objective was to work in a planned manner for the overall development of various tribal communities, including Tharu, Boksa and Jaunsari. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, was established in 1999.
The Union Minister thanked Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and said that the construction of the Eklavya Model Residential School in Khatima had become possible through their joint efforts. He announced that the Government of India would spend around Rs 10 crore for the expansion and facilities of the Eklavya School in Khatima.
He informed that the tender for a hostel to be constructed at a cost of around Rs 4 crore had been completed and construction work would begin soon. The school would have the capacity to accommodate a total of 480 students, including 240 boys and 240 girls. The prescribed capacity of Eklavya Model Residential Schools is also 480 students.
The Union Minister praised the 100 per cent examination result of the Eklavya School in Khatima and said that such schools at other places in the state, including Bajpur, Chakrata and the Kalsi area of Dehradun, were also providing quality education.
Jual Oram, referring to schemes being run for tribal welfare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Central Government was continuously working for the social and economic empowerment of tribal communities through various schemes. He assured that tribal issues in the region would be resolved on priority.
Kiren Rijiju praises tribal culture and Chief Minister Dhami’s leadership
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju praised Uttarakhand’s tribal diversity and rich cultural heritage. He said various tribal communities, including Tharu, Boksa, Jaunsari and Raji, reside in Uttarakhand, and their distinctive cultures and traditions enrich the identity of the state.
Referring to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s working style, he said the Chief Minister had faced various challenges during natural disasters, tunnel accidents, landslides and other difficult circumstances. He said such a public servant was found once in centuries.
Rijiju said that after 2014, the welfare of tribal society and their identity received a new priority in the country. Respecting the contribution of tribal society to the freedom struggle, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda began to be observed as Tribal Pride Day. He said efforts were being made to ensure that development reached remote tribal areas through schemes such as PM-JANMAN.
The Union Minister greeted tribal representatives and artists who had come from various states, including Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Mizoram. He called upon all communities to preserve their cultural heritage, identity and traditions and stressed the active participation of tribal society in realising the resolve of a developed India by 2047.
Artists from different states present cultural glimpses
At Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav, tribal artists from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Mizoram and Uttar Pradesh presented their respective folk cultures, traditional dances, music and art. The artists’ colourful traditional attire and folk performances became a major attraction for the audience.
Cabinet Minister Khajan Das welcomed and greeted all guests who attended Uttarakhand Aadi Rangotsav and congratulated everyone for organising the event. Member of Parliament and Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta expressed his thanks and gratitude to all guests, artists and participants present at the programme.
MP Ajay Bhatt, MP and Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta, Cabinet Ministers Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Subodh Uniyal, Pradeep Batra, Khajan Das and Ram Singh Kaida, Bharat Singh Chaudhary, District Panchayat President Ajay Maurya, Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Mukesh Kumar, MLA Sarita Arya, Minister of State rank holders Geeta Ram Gaud, Ranjit Singh Namdhari, Vinay Ruhela, Mohini Pokhariya, Gambhir Singh Dhami, Farzana Begum, Kishan Singh Kinna, Uttam Dutta, Leelawati Rana, Block Pramukh Sarita Rana, Municipal Chairman Ramesh Chandra Joshi, BJP District President Kamal Jindal, District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadouria, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Ganapati, along with other officials, public representatives and a large number of local people, were present at the programme.
