: Mumbai, November 15, 2023

PM Narendra Modi launched two historical initiatives, namely Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission, in a program marking the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, 2023, in Khunti, Jharkhand. At the same time, Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary which is being celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, was observed at various districts in the state of Maharashtra. On the occasion, IEC vans on Vikshit Bharat Sankalp Yatra were launched from the tribal districts of Nandurbar, Nashik, Gadchiroli, Palghar and Nanded today.

The Governor Shri Ramesh Bais and Maharashtra CM Shri Eknath Shinde attended the programme at Nandurbar district, where from they flagged off the Information, Education and Communication van of Central Government's Central Communications Bureau to launch the Sankalp Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Governor paid respect to the tribal warriors of India’s freedom struggle and expressed pleasure in showing the green flag to Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra van. On this occasion, the Governor also virtually inaugurated the state level tribal cultural festival. He stated that development of tribal brothers is necessary for overall development of India. He informed that more than one crore tribal community members reside in Maharashtra. In a message to tribal youth, he appealed to them to stay away from intoxicants. He also advised them to preserve their art and culture and to speak and preserve their dialect. In this connection, the Governor stated that there is a growing demand for tribal folk arts.

Maharashtra CM Shri Eknath Shinde said Bhagwan Birsa Munda was a folk hero whose contribution in the freedom struggle is unforgettable. He further stated that the Government is trying to bring the tribal community into mainstream of society. He also mentioned Maharashtra Government’s road scheme for building roads up to tribal villages which is named Bhagwan Birsa Munda Road Linking Project.  The State Government’s Tribal Development Minister Dr. Vijay Kumar Gavit, Gadchiroli District Guardian Minister Shri Anil Patil and MP Dr. Hina Gavit were also present on the occasion.

At Nashik district, the IEC van was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar. On this occasion, Nashik District Guardian Minister Shri Dada Bhuse, Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Shri Narhari Zirwal, Zilla Parishad Deputy Chief Executive Officer Pratibha Sangamanere were present among other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, MoS Dr. Bharati Pawar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to launch the Sankalp Yatra on this day by drawing inspiration from Bhagwan Birsa Munda's sacrifice. Explaining the purpose of this programme, Union MoS said that there are many schemes of the Central Government, but they do not reach the common people and hence, PM wants to reach the beneficiaries directly. That is the reason for organizing the Sankalp Yatra, she explained. Information about various central schemes will be provided in the villages where the vans will travel, she added. The citizens will be told about how get the benefit of facilities like Ayushman Card, Jan Arogya Card etc. She said that the Central Government has planned to give assistance of up to five lakh rupees to poor patients under Ayushman Bharat scheme, but many citizens do not know about it. Citizens should take advantage of these central government schemes, urged the Union MoS. There are many schemes for village panchayats but due to lack of documents they are not getting enough funds, she further said.

In a program organized at Kinwat in Nanded district for the launch of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the district’s Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan and dignitaries paid respect to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and interacted with the citizens from tribal communities present on the occasion. He flagged off the IEC van of Central Communications Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Girish Mahajan said, “We have achieved a great distance from health to education of our tribal brothers through development schemes”. He also said that residential ashram schools has been started at taluka level so that no child of any village is deprived from education. He also said that “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” is of great benefit to reach the beneficiaries who are yet to know about and benefit from the various government schemes meant for them. He further said that the Sankalp Yatra is a journey that creates a new horizon along with fulfilment of the Sankalp or Resolution of a Developed India that has been taken. “Today we are starting the Sankalp Yatra from village to village through the Zilla Parishad and the District Administration, to lit the flame of knowledge in every house in tribal areas of the state”, he said.

In Palghar, Maharashtra Government's Public Works (Excluding Public Undertakings) Minister and the District Guardian Minister Shri Ravindra Chavan flagged off the IEC van in presence of local tribal citizens who heartily welcomed it.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched at Gadchiroli district by Shri Ashok Nete, MP of Chimur LS Constituency. He flagged off the IEC van at Vairagad in Armori taluka of Gadchiroli district, in presence of MLA Krishna Gajbe, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ayushi Singh and former MLA Ananda Rao Gedam among others. MP Shri Ashok Nete asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strived to implement schemes for every section of the society and bring them into the mainstream of development in the last nine years.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

 It has been the constant endeavor of the Prime Minister to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner. In a major step towards the attainment of this aim of saturation of schemes, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.

The focus of the Yatra will be on reaching out to people, creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water, etc. Enrolment of potential beneficiaries will be done through details ascertained during the Yatra.

The Prime Minister flagged off IEC (Information, Education and Communication) vans in Khunti, Jharkhand, marking the launch of  ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’. The Yatra will start from districts with significant tribal populations initially and by 25th January 2024 and will cover all districts across the country.

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SVS/SC/PM

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