Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has said that the Gond kings had made sacrifices for the freedom of the country. Historic buildings linked with their sacrifices and acts of bravery will be preserved. For this, he lauded the works started by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry during the regime of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Kunwar Shah also released a flag of Shaurya Stambh of tribal king Hriday Shah.
Minister Kunwar Shah said that the State boasts of glorious tribal traditions. Gond rulers like Raja Shankar Shah, Raghunath Shah and Rani Avanti Bai have shown exemplary courage and laid down their lives. He said that his ancestors belonged to Makradhi Garh, which was one of 52 Garhs of Gond kingdom. Kunwar Shah said that he has been sent by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as his representative since he could not participate in this programme.
The Minister said that the State Government is providing wheat and rice at the rate of Re. one per kg to needy tribals. He said that arrangements are being made to provide kerosene containers of 1 to 5 kg free of cost to 63 lakh tribal families. Besides, subsidised cloth, pulse etc. will also be provided at fair price shops like modern stores.
Tribal Welfare Minister Gyan Singh announced Rs1.60 crore for development works in tribal areas of Mandla. He informed that these funds would be used for drinking water arrangements at Chaugan of Ram Nagar, construction of community halls and approach road. Former Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste also spoke on the occasion.
He informed that Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has recently announced Rs4 crore for development of this area. Before the programmes, the guests inspected Rai Bhagat Ki Kothi. The guests performed Shiv-Poojan and hoisted Gond-era flag. Tribal artistes presented music and dance programmes during the 2-day Utsav.