Malkangiri: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday announced that two industrial projects involving an investment of Rs 4,200 crore would soon be established in Malkangiri district, reaffirming the state government’s focus on accelerating development in the tribal-dominated region.
Addressing the state-level celebration of the 151st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day) at Malkangiri, Majhi said the district, where tribals constitute around 58 per cent of the population, was receiving priority in social, economic and administrative matters.
He called upon people to join hands under the banner of ‘Team Malkangiri’ and become part of ‘Team Odisha’ to realise the vision of a prosperous state.
The Chief Minister inaugurated development projects worth Rs 161 crore for the district. These included 28 newly constructed hostel projects worth Rs 55 crore aimed at expanding educational facilities for tribal students. He also laid the foundation stones for 35 projects worth Rs 106 crore relating to infrastructure and overall development.
Emphasising that tribal empowerment was essential for building a prosperous Odisha and a developed India, Majhi said Tribal Pride Day was an occasion to recognise and preserve the rich history, traditions, languages, art, culture and heritage of indigenous communities.
Paying tribute to Birsa Munda, he described the freedom fighter as a pioneering figure in the struggle against colonial oppression and injustice, whose ideals inspired generations of tribal people.
The Chief Minister said the state government had launched the ‘Chief Minister’s Tribal Livelihood Mission 2.0’ to promote economic self-reliance among tribal households. The initiative aims to cover around eight lakh Scheduled Tribe and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) families across 134 blocks in 19 districts over the next five years.
He also highlighted the inclusion of 7,667 villages across 27 districts of Odisha under the Centre’s Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which seeks to improve access to housing, drinking water, roads, healthcare and education.
On housing, Majhi said Odisha’s allocation under the rural component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had been increased from four lakh to five lakh houses following his request to the Centre. He said he had sought an additional one lakh houses and expressed confidence that the demand would be considered favourably.
Highlighting educational opportunities for tribal students, he said reservations of 22.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribes, 16.25 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 11.25 per cent for Backward Classes had been implemented in engineering and medical courses. The number of functional Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Odisha had also increased to 71, the highest among states, with 24 new schools becoming operational simultaneously.
Majhi cited the achievements of tribal students, including Bonda youth Mangala Muduli and Didai student Champa Raspada, who secured admission to medical colleges after clearing NEET. He also mentioned Bonda student Bini Muduli and tribal youth Shyama Madhi for qualifying for the Odisha Administrative Service examination.
The Chief Minister felicitated two PhD scholars and a social worker belonging to the Didai tribal community at the programme.
Taking a political swipe at previous governments, Majhi alleged that the contributions of several national icons, including Birsa Munda, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, had not received adequate recognition in the past. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government with institutionalising the observance of November 15 as Tribal Pride Day since 2021.
He said the progress of remote tribal communities, including access to LPG connections and digital payment facilities, reflected the country’s development over the past decade.
Addressing the gathering, State School and Mass Education and ST and SC Development Minister Nityananda Gond said Birsa Munda symbolised the pride and valour of tribal communities and had led the struggle for their rights over jal, jungle and jameen (water, forest and land) against British rule.
He said the Centre and the Odisha government were taking several initiatives to ensure the socio-economic empowerment and dignity of tribal communities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier addressed the national-level Tribal Pride Day programme at Gadchiroli in Maharashtra through virtual mode, following which the state-level celebration was held in Malkangiri.
Among those present were Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, Malkangiri MLA Narsingh Madkami, Chitrakonda MLA Mangu Khil, Special Development Council chairman Gangadhar Sodi, Divisional Commissioner B. Parameswaran and Malkangiri Collector Prathamesh Aravind Rajesirke. Thousands of tribal people, students and intellectuals attended the event.
