Preserving the legacy of tribal heroes is our collective responsibility — Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai attended and inaugurated the Tribal Pride Day Workshop held at the Convention Hall, Civil Lines, Raipur today.

The Chief Minister recalled that last year, a similar workshop on Tribal Pride Day was successfully organized in the same auditorium and celebrated with great enthusiasm across the state. He highlighted the 10-kilometer-long padyatra held in Jashpur, which was joined by Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya and showcased the tribal community’s traditional attire, cuisine, jewelry, and culture. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had appreciated this initiative and suggested that such programs be organized annually across the country.

Shri Sai said that Prime Minister Modi’s decision to celebrate Tribal Pride Day on the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda is a fitting tribute to the glorious legacy of India’s tribal heroes. Referring to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said that Vajpayee ji took a historic step toward tribal welfare by establishing the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the first time in India.

The Chief Minister further mentioned that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, PM Janman Yojana and PM Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana are driving rapid development in Chhattisgarh. Under the Janman Yojana, 2,500 kilometers of roads are being constructed, and 32,000 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana houses have been sanctioned in the state.

He also informed that a Tribal Museum has been built in Nava Raipur, dedicated to the 14 tribal uprisings of Chhattisgarh and the life of Amar Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh. The museum, he said, is a major initiative to preserve the legacy of tribal history and pride. The Chief Minister urged academicians and intellectuals to integrate tribal pride and history into educational curricula, so that future generations can draw inspiration from their ancestors’ rich heritage.

Minister of Higher Education Shri Tankaram Verma said the workshop will serve as a milestone in understanding the rich traditions and history of the tribal community, while also helping to address emerging challenges. The goal, he added, is to develop concrete strategies for tribal upliftment by strengthening access to education, health, livelihood, and employment.

Minister of Tribal Welfare and Agriculture Shri Ramvichar Netam noted that the framework for this workshop will be developed collectively by experts and scholars, and the state government will take concrete actions accordingly. He said that last year, almost all districts of the state celebrated Tribal Pride Day successfully, and this year it will be observed in an even more grand and impactful manner.

Minister of Forest and Climate Change Shri Kedar Kashyap stated that more than 70,000 people participated in last year’s Tribal Pride Day celebration, sending a strong message across the nation that Chhattisgarh is deeply committed to the upliftment of its tribal communities. “We owe our rich heritage to the great tribal heroes, and it is our collective duty to preserve it,” he said.

Shri Yogesh Bapat, General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, remarked that the tribal community is self-reliant and that restoring its pride is the shared responsibility of all. He commended Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai for his dedicated efforts toward tribal welfare and urged that the workshop produce practical plans to further enhance the pride and dignity of the tribal society.

The event was attended by Dr. S. Bharathidasan, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Dr. Saransh Mittar, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare Department; Shri Vijay Dayaram K., Director, Employment and Training; Vice-Chancellors of various universities, Principals of leading colleges, and representatives of several institutions.