Ranchi/Khunti
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched and unveiled projects and schemes worth Rs 49,000 crore aimed at connecting left-out poor, tribals and particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) besides building infrastructure for a developed India 25 years down the line when the nation celebrates 100 years of Independence.
Dwelling on his personal connection with Jharkhand, the Prime Minister recalled that Ayushman Yojana was started from Jharkhand. The Prime Minister said that two historic initiatives are being launched from Jharkhand today: First, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which will be a medium of saturation goals of the government and second, PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), which will protect the tribes on the verge of extinction and nurture them.
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 that will culminate on January 26, 2024.
Under PM JANMAN, he said the government will reach out to tribal groups and primitive tribes most of whom still dwell in the forests. He stated that the government has identified 75 such tribal communities and primitive tribes with a population of lakhs who reside in more than 22,000 villages in the country. “Earlier governments did the work of connecting the figures, but I want to connect the lives, not the figures. With this goal, PM JANMAN has started today,” the Prime Minister said. He informed that the Central government is going to spend Rs 24,000 crores on this mega campaign.
Referring to the inspiring struggle of Bhagwan Birsa Munda for tribal pride, the Prime Minister mentioned the association of the land of Jharkhand with the innumerable tribal heroes. He mentioned that many heroes like Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu Kanhu, Chand Bhairav, Phulo Jhano, Nilambar, Pitambar, Jatra Tana Bhagat and Albert Ekka have made this land proud.
The Prime Minister said Adivasi warriors took part in the freedom struggle in every nook and corner of the country and mentioned Govind Guru of Mangarh Dham, Tantya Bhil of Madhya Pradesh, Bhima Nayak, Martyr Veer Narayan Singh of Chhattisgarh, Veer Gundadhur, Rani Gaidinliu of Manipur, Veer Ramji Gond of Telangana, Alluri Sitaram Raju of Andhra Pradesh, Rani Durgavati of Gond Pradesh. Lamenting the neglect of such personalities, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on remembering these heroes during the Amrit Mahotsava.
Pointing that India was observing the Amrit Kaal, he exhorted the people to strengthen four Amrit Stambhs (pillars) namely women, farmers, youth and middle-class to ensure a developed nation. While Modi announced that Jharkhand has become the country’s first state with 100 per cent rail electrification, he unveiled projects worth around Rs 7,200 crore for State related to rail, road, education, coal, petroleum and natural gas here.
Earlier, Modi — accompanied by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Governor CP Radhakrishnan and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda — visited Birsa Munda’s birthplace Ulihatu in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, and paid floral tributes to him on his birth anniversary, which is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Modi, the first prime minister to visit Ulihatu, was accorded a warm welcome with locals dancing to the tunes of traditional instruments such as dhol and mandar. He also met Birsa’s descendants.
He started off his day by visiting the Birsa Munda Museum-cum-Memorial Park in Ranchi. The Museum was earlier the jail where Birsa, who revolted against the British, was kept in captivity and where he died.
A video message from the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu was played on the occasion.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formulate special schemes for tribals, including those displaced for exploiting mineral resources of the State. Soren said historians have failed to give tribal the place they deserve in history. “We are hopeful that the target of development by you will prove to be a milestone for tribals. Jharkhand has huge mineral resources… Tribals have been displaced for exploiting resources, and we urge you to bring special schemes for the tribals,” he told the Prime Minister.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, who represents Khunti in the Lok Sabha, complimented the Prime Minister for the numerous tribal-oriented initiatives.
The projects inaugurated in Jharkhand include include the new campus of IIM-Ranchi, a new hostel of IIT-ISM Dhanbad, Petroleum Oil and Lubricants (POL) depot in Bokaro, doubling of railway tracks in the Hatia-Pakra, Talgaria-Bokaro and Jarangdih-Patratu sections.
The projects for which foundations will be laid include the four-laning of the 52-km stretch of the Mahagama-Hansdiha section of NH-133, four-laning of the 45-km stretch of Basukinath-Deoghar section of NH-114 A, KDH-Purnadih Coal Handling Plant and a new academic and administrative building of IIIT-Ranchi.
