President Draupadi Murmu has said that the development of tribal society is linked to the development of the entire country. Madhya Pradesh has an important contribution in the development and empowerment of tribal society and deprived sections. In Madhya Pradesh, commendable efforts have been made to preserve the memory of tribal legends and to pass them on to future generations. For this, all concerned including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Governor Mangubhai Patel deserve congratulations.
Murmu said that all the projects which have been started in Madhya Pradesh for the welfare of tribals are of national importance. The new rules made for the scheduled areas will be effective in empowering the tribal areas and giving the tribals their rights. Complete health programme, honoring meritorious students, Birsa Munda self-employment scheme, Tantya Mama economic welfare scheme, honoring women entrepreneurs will all prove extremely useful in tribal empowerment.
Draupadi Murmu was addressing the State Level Tribal Pride Day Conference at Lalpur, Shahdol today. The President released the complete health program plan booklet of Madhya Pradesh. Governor Mangubhai Patel handed over the first copy of the PESA Act Manual to the President Smt. Murmu. President Murmu first offered floral tributes to the portrait of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Governor Patel welcomed President Murmu with garland and a tribal scarf. Chief Minister Chouhan welcomed President Smt. Murmu with a tribal turban and presented Bhil Pithora painting artwork to her.
The President said that in view of the challenges of climate change and global warming today, we need to take lessons from the tribal way of life. Tribal life is based on nature and they protect nature. For them human society, flora and fauna are of equal importance. The tribal class gives more importance to the group than to the individual, to co-operation rather than to competition and to equality rather than to uniqueness. Men and women are equal in them and the sex ratio is better.
Murmu said that former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the son of Madhya Pradesh, who made a historic contribution for the welfare of the tribal class by forming the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking forward the thinking of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today this Ministry is working for the overall welfare of the tribal class. He also appreciated the works of Union Minister Arjun Munda.
Murmu said that Madhya Pradesh has rich tribal heritage. Out of the total 10 crore tribal population of the country, maximum 1.5 crore tribal population resides here. Tribal heroes of Madhya Pradesh Kishore Singh, Khajya Nayak, Rani Phoolkunwar, Sitaram Kunwar, Mahua Kaul, Shankar Shah, Raghunath Shah etc. sacrificed everything for justice. In the sixteenth century, Rani Durgavati sacrificed herself for self-pride and after 300 years, her own descendants Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah laid down their lives for the country.
President Smt. Murmu said that the tribes of Madhya Pradesh have their own specialties. The Baiga tribe is famous for its traditional knowledge and use of herbal remedies.
The tribal community has an important contribution in enriching the cultural heritage of Chambal, Malwa, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Mahakaushal regions of Madhya Pradesh. The President said that in the month of September last, I had the opportunity to give award to Madhya Pradesh's film "Mandal Ke Bol" based on Baiga tradition.
Special steps are being taken in Madhya Pradesh for tribal development and keeping their traditions intact. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan and Governor Shri Patel deserve congratulations for celebrating the birthday of Lord Birsa Munda as Tribal Pride Day and for the wide participation of the tribal community in this programme. He said that I was not only happy but also got inspiration after visiting the exhibition on tribal development saga organized here today.
Governor Shri Mangubhai Patel said that the new rules of the PESA Act implemented in Madhya Pradesh from today will prove important in the social and economic empowerment of the tribal class. With the implementation of these rules, the gram sabhas will become very powerful. According to the new rules of the PESA Act, the management of water, land and forests, settlement of minor disputes, inspection of health centers, schools, anganwadi centers, monitoring of various schemes, etc. will be in the hands of the Gram Sabha.
Governor Mr. Patel said that President Mrs. Draupadi Murmu has created a new history by reaching the highest position in the country from a simple tribal family.
Governor Shri Patel said that a continuous campaign is being run in the state to eradicate sickle cell anemia in the tribal section. Rs 226 crore will be spent in the second phase of the campaign. He asked the youth to go door-to-door to get people tested and get medicines to save them from this serious disease. This disease has been included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that today it is a matter of fortune for the state that President Smt. Draupadi Murmu has come to Madhya Pradesh on the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda. In his presence, the PESA Act is being implemented for the empowerment of tribals in the state. Its rules will give the tribal class the rights of water, forest and land. The new rules will be implemented in the state with social harmony. Today is the day of social revolution.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that according to the new rules of the PESA Act, every year the Patwari will have to bring the land map, Khasra Nakal to the village and show it in the Gram Sabha, so that no one can make any mistake in the records. In case of any discrepancy, the Gram Sabha will have the right to correct it. The consent of the Gram Sabha will be necessary for taking land for any scheme. No person will be able to grab the land of the villagers by deceit, conversion etc. If this happens, the Gram Sabha will have the right to get it back.