Speaking at a Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas event in Dediapada, Narmada district, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi severely criticized the Congress party, accusing it of systematically neglecting tribal communities during its decades of rule. The Prime Minister used the occasion, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹9,700 crore in the tribal belt of south Gujarat, to highlight his government’s commitment to tribal welfare and development.

Criticism of Congress’s Six Decades of Rule

PM Modi framed the history of tribal communities post-independence as one marked by prolonged injustice and neglect by the Congress party.

• Neglect and Deficiencies: Modi stated that the party which governed India for six decades had “left the tribal communities to their fate.” He pointed out that tribal regions became synonymous with severe deficiencies:”Our tribal regions faced issues like malnutrition, lack of healthcare, inadequate education, and poor connectivity. These deficiencies in a way became the identity of the tribal regions, but the Congress did nothing about it.”
• Neglected Ministry: The Prime Minister recalled that it was the BJP-led government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee that first established a separate ministry for tribal affairs. He then accused the subsequent Congress government of neglecting this vital ministry entirely during its ten-year tenure.
• Budgetary Allocation: Modi contrasted the historical budgetary allocation with his government’s efforts. He noted that the then-government in 2013 allocated only a few thousand crore for tribal welfare, whereas his government has since seen the budget for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs rise multifold.

Prioritizing Tribal Welfare and Inclusive Growth

The Prime Minister asserted that tribal welfare has always been the “highest priority” for his party, guided by an unwavering resolve to end the historical injustices faced by these communities.

1. Education and Aspirational Districts

Modi recalled launching the Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav from Dediapada during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister. He highlighted the significant investment made by the central government in recent years:

• Eklavya Schools: The central government has allocated over ₹18,000 crore for Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country.
• Increased Enrollment: Essential facilities have been provided, resulting in a 60% increase in the number of tribal children enrolling in these schools.
• Aspirational Districts: Citing Narmada district as a success story, Modi emphasized his government’s vision of prioritizing the deprived. The district was declared an Aspirational District and has since made significant progress across various development parameters.

2. Healthcare Initiatives

The Prime Minister underscored the government’s fight against sickle cell disease, a major threat long faced by tribal communities.

• Infrastructure: The government has increased the number of dispensaries, medical centers, and hospitals in tribal regions.
• Nationwide Campaign: A nationwide campaign is underway to combat the disease, under which six crore tribal brothers and sisters across the country have already been screened.

3. Development Projects and PM-JANMAN

Modi confirmed that the foundation stones for several projects related to national development and tribal welfare were laid during the event.

• Under schemes like PM-JANMAN, one lakh families in the region have been provided with permanent houses.
• A large number of Eklavya Model Schools and Ashram Schools were inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid.

Preserving Tribal Heritage and Language

Modi emphasized the crucial importance of ensuring that the tribal community’s significant contribution to the freedom movement is passed on to future generations.

• Tribal Museums: Several tribal museums are being established nationwide. In Gujarat, a vast tribal museum is under construction on 25 acres in Rajpipla. Modi also mentioned the recently inaugurated Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Tribal Museum in Chhattisgarh and the development of the jail where Birsa Munda was imprisoned into a tribal museum in Ranchi.
• Shri Govind Guru Chair: The Prime Minister announced the establishment of the Shri Govind Guru Chair for the Tribal Language Promotion Centre at the Birsa Munda Tribal University. This center will be dedicated to:
  • Studying the dialects of tribal communities, including Bhil, Gamit, Vasava, Santhal, and others.
  • Preserving the stories and songs associated with these communities.

Modi affirmed that the tribal society possesses knowledge acquired through thousands of years of experience, encompassing science, philosophy, and environmental understanding. The Shri Govind Guru Chair, he concluded, will serve to connect the new generation with this invaluable tradition.