PM Modi unveils Rs 9700 crore projects in Gujarat

New Delhi, Nov 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused previous governments, particularly those led by the Congress, of neglecting tribal communities for decades, saying they were denied basic services, meaningful development and national recognition.

Addressing a large gathering in Dediapada, Gujarat, Modi said earlier regimes “kept tribal regions in darkness” and failed to honour icons like Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Speaking on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, which also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the PM said his government had reversed this “historic injustice” by expanding welfare schemes, strengthening the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and boosting funding for housing, education and healthcare in tribal belts.

PM Modi unveiled and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 9,700 crore, calling the occasion a culmination of the Bharat Parv celebrations that began on Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary last month.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

The PM inaugurated a series of schemes across key social sectors including Grih Pravesh of 1 lakh PM-JANMAN homes for tribal families, 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) worth about Rs 1900 crore and Tribal Research Institutes and health facilities, including new units at Assam Medical College and a TRI complex in Imphal, launched of 228 multi-purpose community centres, laid foundation stone for 50 new EMRS, involving an outlay of Rs 2320 crore, launched 748 km of rural roads, boosting connectivity in tribal districts, flagged off 250 buses to improve transport across 14 tribal districts.

PM Modi also announced a Shri Govind Guru Chair for Tribal Language Promotion, which will help document tribal dialects, oral histories and folk traditions.

He said his government had increased the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s budget several times since 2014 and given unprecedented priority to health interventions such as the countrywide sickle cell disease elimination campaign, under which six crore people have been screened.

The PM highlighted better access to education through EMRS expansion, local-language instruction under the National Education Policy, and improved livelihoods through higher MSP for minor forest produce - from 20 items to nearly 100.
He also underlined increased tribal representation in governance, noting that India’s President, several chief ministers and governors come from tribal communities.

PM Modi paid homage to Birsa Munda and other tribal freedom fighters including Govind Guru, Tilka Manjhi, Rani Gaidinliu, Sidho-Kanho, and Alluri Sitarama Raju, saying their struggles are integral to India’s freedom story.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined the Prime Minister at the event.