Paper: GS – I, Subject: Modern History, Topic: Important Personalities, Issue: Birsa Munda Jayanti.
Context:
Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary honors the enduring fight of India’s tribal communities for dignity, rights, and freedom. His leadership symbolized sustained resistance against colonial exploitation, shaping India’s history.
Key Highlights:
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas: Recognizing Tribal Contributions:
- Commemoration of Birsa Munda’s Birth Anniversary: In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared November 15, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to honor tribal leaders and their struggles.
- Instilling Pride and Knowledge: This decision aimed to instill pride and knowledge about the rich heritage and struggles of tribal freedom fighters across generations.
- Conclusion of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh: The year 2024 marked the conclusion of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Birsa Munda (Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh).
Government Initiatives for Tribal Empowerment:
- Establishment of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs: During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister, a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs was established to focus on tribal development.
- Formation of New States: The formation of separate states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand was supported to address the specific needs and aspirations of tribal populations.
- PM-JANMAN Scheme: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ulihatu, Birsa Munda’s birthplace, validated the importance of Janjatiyas. The PM-JANMAN scheme was launched to protect and empower particularly vulnerable tribal communities.
- Shift from Welfare to Empowerment: Policymaking for tribal communities has shifted from being welfare-oriented to empowerment-oriented.
- PM-JANMAN Mission: This mission targets 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and aims to provide basic infrastructural facilities such as pucca houses, road connectivity, drinking water, electricity connection, healthcare facilities, and education.
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: This transformative mission aims for 100% saturation of basic services and holistic socio-economic development in over 63,000 tribal-majority villages.
- Geotagging of Tribal Products and Business Conclaves: Initiatives such as geotagging of tribal products and the Tribal Business Conclave are positive steps towards empowering tribal communities and integrating them into the national mainstream.
Education and Preservation of Tribal Heritage:
- Expansion of Eklavya Model Residential (EMR) Schools: Efforts have been made to expand the Eklavya Model Residential (EMR) schools to provide quality education to tribal students.
- The government aims to establish 728 EMR schools, with 479 already functional, benefiting around 3.5 lakh tribal students across the country.
- Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums: The government has sanctioned 11 state-of-the-art tribal freedom fighter museums across 10 states, with four already inaugurated.
- These museums leverage digital and immersive technology to serve as vibrant educational centers.
Conclusion:
The tribal leaders and their movements serve as a constant reminder that the fight for freedom and dignity was deeply rooted in the forests and hills of India’s tribal areas. Their courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit continue to inspire movements for social justice, ecological balance, and human rights across the nation. Birsa Munda’s legacy, though he lived for only 25 years, has ignited a fire of patriotism that will last for generations to come.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040