Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 246 development projects worth approximately Rs 3,000 crore in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.
Held on the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of legendary tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the event marked the grand culmination of the nationwide Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, observed from November 1 to 15.
The sweeping developmental package is tailored to profoundly enhance education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and community infrastructure for tribal communities across India.
Direct Interaction with Beneficiaries
During the event, Prime Minister Modi interacted with various tribal beneficiaries who shared how central welfare initiatives have altered the course of their daily lives. Krishna Nagorao Teka, a beneficiary of the PM-JANMAN scheme from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, expressed heartfelt gratitude, noting how his family transitioned from living in vulnerable conditions during monsoons to securing a permanent, secure home equipped with essential sanitation facilities.
The Prime Minister also engaged with Vajir from Bharuch, Gujarat, who discussed receiving bamboo-craft training under the New Gujarat Pattern Yojana. Highlighting this interaction, Prime Minister Modi strongly criticised previous administrations for retaining colonial-era laws that classified bamboo as a “tree,” criminalising its harvest by indigenous populations. “However, when we came to power, we ended that law and made sure that the tribals have full rights over bamboo,” the Prime Minister emphasised.
Key Projects Unveiled
The massive rollout of 246 projects is split between major inaugurations and newly laid foundation stones:
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Inaugurations (173 Projects): Included 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal students, 100 Multi-Purpose Centres under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) building in Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), and the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Aizawl (Mizoram).
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Foundation Stones (73 Projects): Comprised 19 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools, 12 Tribal Multi-purpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) to boost market access for local producers, and 42 additional grassroots infrastructure projects under PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).
The celebration underscored the central government’s ongoing pledge to bridge developmental gaps while safeguarding the distinct cultural heritage and dignity of India’s tribal population.
