Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah today addressed the ‘Janjati Sanskriti Samagam’ organised in New Delhi on the occasion of the 150^th birth anniversary year of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as the Chief Guest.

In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that this conclave will be remembered for many years to come as a Mahakumbh of tribal communities. He said that after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, this is the first tribal movement that unites the entire country. He said that this year marks the 150^th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He noted that the Ulgulan movement had humbled the British, and despite the lack of communication facilities at that time, Bhagwan Birsa Munda succeeded in spreading the message from Jharkhand to Gujarat and across India that our faith is the true faith and that no one can encroach upon our forests. He said that water, forests, and mountains are centre of faith for our tribal brothers and sisters, sources of livelihood, and an impregnable fortress that protects their identity and culture. He added that today, the greatest sustainable model is the one created by tribal communities.

Shri Amit Shah said that all tribal communities have exemplified the principle of unity in diversity and diversity in unity. He said that the makers of our Constitution granted every individual the right to live with dignity with their faith. No one can force or lure anyone into religious conversion through greed, temptation, or coercion. He said that if the tribal communities resolve today to protect their faith, this commitment will keep us connected to our culture and nation. Shri Shah added that those trying to create divisions among us do not realise that thousands of years ago, Lord Rama, by eating the tasted berries offered by Shabari, taught us that we are all one. He said that today’s conference and the presence of tribal communities in lakhs send a strong message to those who seek to create divisions in society.

Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah said that a conspiracy is now being spread claiming that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will deprive tribal communities of their culture, traditions, and right to live according to their customs. He said that as the Home Minister of the Narendra Modi government, he wants to make it clear that no provision of the UCC will be imposed on tribal communities, nor will it infringe upon any of their rights. He said that the Modi government has implemented the UCC in Gujarat and Uttarakhand while making special provisions to keep all tribal communities outside its purview. Shri Shah added that he wants to tell those trying to create divisions that the UCC will not interfere with the traditions of any tribal community.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Modi government has eliminated the five-decade-old scourge of Naxalism, whose violence had claimed more than 40,000 tribal lives, and that today the country has become completely free from the Naxal problem. He said that those who had obstructed the development of tribal communities and forest dwellers have been eliminated. Shri Shah said that in places where security forces’ camps were once set up to combat Naxalites, Modi government has converted 70 such camps into Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera public service centres. He added that the time has now come to take development to the hills and forests of tribal regions.He said that his party has always given priority to tribal welfare. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the development of tribal communities by creating the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and Prime Minister Modi has carried this work forward. He said that in the recent West Bengal elections, his party won all 16 tribal reserved seats.

Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has worked consistently to advance tribal welfare. During the previous central government’s tenure, the total budget for tribal welfare was ₹28,000 crore, which Prime Minister Modi has increased to ₹1.5 lakh crore. He added that the Modi government is fully committed to the welfare of tribal communities.

Shri Amit Shah said that Shri Narendra Modi elevated Smt. Droupadi Murmu, who comes from a poor Santhal family, to the office of the President of India, thereby working for the welfare of the entire tribal community. He said that it was during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji that Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh became tribal-majority states, and today both Odisha and Chhattisgarh have tribal Chief Ministers. He said that for the implementation of the PESA Act, the Government of India has established a PESA Cell, trained more than one lakh master trainers, and translated the PESA rules into several tribal languages such as Santhali, Gondi, Bhili, and Mundari. He added that the government has also created the PESA Gram Panchayat Development Plan portal for real-time monitoring. Shri Shah said that Madhya Pradesh’s PESA law model is an ideal model, and all governments led by his party are working to advance it further.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has implemented several major development schemes, including 722 Eklavya Model Schools, and ensured housing, electricity, tap water, health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh, and monthly food ration support for every tribal family. Shri Shah said that this movement of the tribal communities will not only preserve us in the coming days but also keep us connected to our land, culture, and faith. He added that this movement is laying a strong foundation for strengthening the entire country. He said with the mantra ‘Tu aur Mai Ek Rakt Hai’ the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has carried out an unbroken mission of service to tribal communities as silent workers. He added that this Mahakumbh will play a major role in protecting our culture, our land, and our faith. He urged people to stay away from misconceptions, identify those who create divisions, and move forward united towards building a developed and prosperous India by 2047.

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