Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 1 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring security, dignity, and self-reliance for tribal communities.
Speaking at the Tribal Pride Day programme in Chopan, Sonbhadra, held to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda, he said the NDA’s double-engine government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is strengthening development, good governance, and empowerment, making tribal communities key partners in mainstream progress. He added that the celebration is both a remembrance and a commitment to linking tribal pride with development.
The Chief Minister highlighted Birsa Munda’s iconic call, ‘Abua Desh, Abua Raj,’ noting that its spirit of ‘Nation First’ continues to inspire the country. He expressed confidence that the tribal communities of Sonbhadra and across Uttar Pradesh would contribute actively to national unity, security, and prosperity, while leading in developmental initiatives.
Paying tribute to Dharti Aaba, he recalled Birsa Munda’s 19th-century struggle against British rule, describing it as a defining chapter in safeguarding tribal rights. He said this legacy continues today through policies that ensure dignity, participation, and development for tribal communities.
Describing Sonbhadra as Uttar Pradesh’s energy capital and a region rich in natural and historical heritage, he said the strong participation of tribal citizens at the event symbolised hope and aspiration. During the programme, descendants of freedom fighters were honoured, and land pattas were distributed under the Forest Rights Act. He also announced development projects worth INR 548 crore to improve connectivity and infrastructure in the district.
A booklet on Sonbhadra’s tourist destinations and a book on Birsa Munda written by the Vice Chancellor of Maa Vindhyavasini University were released. Certificates were distributed to scheme beneficiaries, and 25 scooters were flagged off for women police personnel under Mission Shakti. The celebration showcased tribal culture through performances such as the Yak Dance from Arunachal Pradesh, the Surguja Tribal Group from Chhattisgarh, and the Karma Dance of Sonbhadra.
Highlighting Sonbhadra’s distinctiveness, the Chief Minister said it is not only an energy hub but also a centre of human history and natural heritage. He referred to the 1.4-billion-year-old fossils at Salkhan Fossil Park, religious sites such as Shivdwar Panchmukhi Mahadev and Jwalamukhi Shaktipeeth, and eco-tourism locations including Hathi Nala and Biodiversity Park. With 14 of Uttar Pradesh’s 15 tribes residing in the district, he said the lives of more than four lakh tribal residents reflect a living legacy of culture and human history.
The Chief Minister spoke about the government’s efforts to preserve tribal identity, including the establishment of a tribal museum and hostel in Imlia Koder, Balrampur. He said a Tribal Pride Museum will soon be set up in the Sonbhadra commissionerate to showcase tribal art, folk instruments, traditions, and lifestyle. The exhibition held during the event reflected this vision.
Addressing the gathering, he said the Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, under the Prime Minister’s PM Jan Man Yojana, is transforming infrastructure and development in 517 tribal-dominated villages across Uttar Pradesh. With an estimated tribal population of 11 lakh living in districts including Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Chitrakoot, Balrampur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, and Bahraich, he said the government is ensuring that no eligible family is excluded from welfare schemes.
He noted that earlier governments delayed decisions related to the Forest Rights Act, which led to exploitation, whereas the present administration has adopted clear policies and taken decisive steps. More than 1,000 tribal families received forest land leases during the programme, adding to over 23,000 leases approved earlier. He said these measures grant ownership rights and bring an end to decades of fear and exploitation.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s focus on social security for tribal families, including land leases, housing, ration cards, Ayushman Bharat coverage, toilets, and pensions for senior citizens and destitute women. Benefits under schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Kusum Yojana, housing, energy, financial inclusion, and self-employment programmes are being extended to all eligible beneficiaries.
Presenting Sonbhadra as a model for education and skill development, he highlighted initiatives including the Eklavya Model Residential School for 240 students, Government Ashram Vidyalayas, expanded Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential Schools, and an Atal Residential School for children of BOCW workers and orphaned children. Programmes such as Abhyudaya coaching are helping tribal youth prepare for competitive exams including NEET and IIT-JEE.
Underscoring the potential of local resources, he said tribal youth are being trained in eco-tourism and as guides, while traditional healers and herbalists are being encouraged to promote forest medicines, helping enhance incomes and preserve cultural knowledge.
(ANI)