The state government will organise a three-day celebration on November 14, 15 and 16 to mark the birth anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day). State-level celebrations will be held in the presence of Governor Shri Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. The event will take place in Jabalpur on November 14, in Dhar and Jobat (Alirajpur district) on November 15, and in Khandwa district on November 16.
At the state-level programme scheduled in Dhar on November 15, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will join through video conferencing and address people of the state.
Special Programme in Dhar
Governor Shri Mangubhai Patel and CM Dr. Mohan Yadav will visit Dhar on November 15 and pay tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. CM Dr. Yadav will also hold a roadshow in the district. During the roadshow, he will visit villages, interact with rural residents and seek feedback on the delivery of benefits under government schemes.
CM Dr. Yadav will also facilitate the registration of plots and houses belonging to eligible beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Registry Scheme (Ownership Rights Registration) in the presence of the beneficiaries. He will also present development projects worth crores of rupees to the people of Dhar district.
Making the occasion of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jayanti even more special, CM Dr. Yadav will inaugurate the Dahi Micro Lift Irrigation Project on the same day. The project will provide farmers in Dhar and Alirajpur districts with irrigation water from the Narmada.
One Irrigation Project to Transform Agricultural Landscape of Two Districts
The state government's efforts to accelerate development in tribal areas and ensure irrigation water reaches farmers' fields, including those at the tail end of the network, are set to yield results. CM Dr. Yadav will inaugurate the newly constructed Dahi Micro Lift Irrigation Project at the state-level programme to be held at Police Ground in Dahi, tribal-dominated Dhar district, on November 15.
The ambitious project, which will irrigate fields with Narmada water, will open new opportunities for agricultural prosperity for farmers in 126 villages across Dhar and Alirajpur districts.
CM Dr. Yadav said that the government's resolve is to ensure water reaches fields, farmers prosper and tribal areas establish a new identity in the mainstream of development. The Dahi Micro Lift Irrigation Project is a historic step towards fulfilling this commitment.
About the Dahi Irrigation Project
The Dahi Micro Lift Irrigation Project will provide irrigation facilities during the Rabi season to approximately 47,000 hectares of agricultural land across 84 villages in Dhar district and 42 villages in Alirajpur district. Around 1.26 lakh farmers will benefit from the project.
Under the project, 166.51 million cubic metres of water will be lifted to provide micro-irrigation facilities across 47,000 hectares. For its operation, 58.87 MW of electricity will be supplied by Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Limited through the 220 kV Extra High Voltage Susari Substation in Kukshi tehsil and the 132 kV substation at Jobat.
The project will provide irrigation to 13,180 hectares in Kukshi tehsil and 15,895 hectares in Dahi tehsil of Dhar district. In Alirajpur district, it will provide permanent irrigation facilities to 15,963 hectares in Jobat tehsil, 1,759 hectares in Sondwa tehsil and 1,958 hectares in Alirajpur tehsil.
The project will boost production of wheat, gram, vegetables and various other crops. It will also strengthen opportunities for crop diversification and increase farmers' income. The project is expected to usher in a new chapter of agricultural development, water conservation and prosperity for farmers in the targeted tribal region.
Project Cost and Capacity
Constructed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority at a cost of approximately Rs 1,353.18 crore, the project was completed on June 30, 2026. Testing work is currently underway.
The project features modern technology. Water will be lifted from the Narmada River through an intake structure built near the village of Katarkheda in Dahi tehsil. It will then be transported to farmers' fields through an advanced pressurised underground pipeline network.
Five modern pump houses have been constructed for the project. The infrastructure includes approximately 58 kilometres of rising mains and pipelines with a distribution network extending over thousands of kilometres. The entire irrigation system has been designed with a focus on water conservation and its optimum utilisation.
Agriculture Outreach Camps and Schools to Train Farmers in Modern Farming
The benefits of the project will extend beyond irrigation facilities. A special awareness campaign will be conducted to help farmers adopt modern and improved agricultural practices and increase their income.
As part of this initiative, agriculture outreach camps and agriculture schools will be organised in 85 gram panchayats across the project area from November 11 to 15. Farmers will be informed about modern farming techniques, water management, efficient use of irrigation water and the benefits of crop diversification. They will also receive training in scientific and profitable farming practices.
Modern Farming on Display at Inauguration: Live Exhibition on ‘Smart Farming and Precision Agriculture’
A special live exhibition on ‘Smart Farming and Precision Agriculture’ will be organised at the Tribal Pride Day venue in Dhar to familiarise farmers with modern agricultural technologies.
The Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries will jointly participate in the exhibition. It will showcase modern farming systems, advanced technologies, scientific agricultural practices and various departmental schemes.
Farmers will be given live demonstrations of these technologies and informed about their practical applications. They will also be encouraged to adopt activities such as horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries alongside farming to create new sources of income.
Government Issues Guidelines for Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas Celebrations
Apart from the state-level celebrations marking Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, various programmes will also be organised across districts.
The state government has issued detailed guidelines to all district collectors and district-level officers of the Tribal Affairs and Scheduled Caste Development Department for organising Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programmes in 88 tribal development blocks.
The government has directed all departmental high schools, higher secondary schools, special schools, hostels and ashram schools to celebrate Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary on November 15.
It has also instructed departmental schools to organise cultural and literary programmes from November 16 to 18, focusing on the life and legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the contributions of tribal heroes to the nation. These programmes will include tribal dances, plays, music, rangoli, painting, essay writing and speech competitions.
