THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Khunti, Nov. 15: Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message from Ulihatu will prove to be a milestone for the development of tribals.
Addressing a public meeting on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Soren said the Prime Minister’s arrival at Ulihatu, the birthplace of Birsa Munda, and organizing the programme connecting it to the entire country has sent a great message.
“You have come to this holy land of Ulihatu for the first time. There is hope and expectation that today’s programme will move the tribal society forward,” Soren told the prime minister.
“Birsa Munda is the god of the tribals of the entire country. Jharkhand has always been the land of heroes, and he (Modi) has seen a direct example of this in the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Tribal Freedom Fighters’ museum located in Ranchi,” he pointed out.
The chief minister requested Modi to take a positive decision on the long-awaited demand for a tribal religion code. “I have full faith that with your support, within days, the welfare of the people of the society including the tribals will be ensured with pride,” he added.
Fights for tribal rights and rights
The chief minister said that Jharkhand is a tribal-dominated state. “I also come from the tribal community, and I am proud to be a tribal. We have been fighting for tribal rights and entitlements. Whether that fight is against the moneylenders or the British. But unfortunately, historians have not given them their proper place. Particularly vulnerable tribal groups are the most backward. If these do not survive, other tribals will become a particularly vulnerable tribal group. Today we have reached the moon, but the differences visible within the society should be erased by now,” he said.
Those living in the forest have to face displacement
The chief minister said Jharkhand has progressed in many ways. Be it mineral wealth or any other subject. He pointed out that a large number of tribals who live in the forests here have to bear the brunt of displacement. “They have been displaced on a large scale for many years to extract mineral resources. Such a special action plan should also be prepared for the people living in this area, where our tribal brothers and sisters can connect themselves with the links of overall development with their water, forests and land,” he said.