Lucknow: In a tribal outreach, BJP has planned a series of programmes and campaigns across the state as part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah (Tribal Pride Week), being organised to mark the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda on Nov 15.Addressing a meeting of BJP’s Scheduled Tribe Morcha in Lucknow on Thursday, BJP state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh asked the morcha functionaries to take the life and contributions of Birsa Munda to every tribal household and promote national and cultural consciousness among the community.He asked them to establish continuous contact and dialogue with tribal communities and play an active role in ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of various welfare schemes being run by the central and state govts.Singh said the programmes should also highlight the social, economic and political empowerment of ST communities under BJP govts.He said the vision of erstwhile Jana Sangh leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was to take the organisation to the last person in society and contribute to nation-building through nationalism and social harmony. This vision was institutionalised through the concept of Antyodaya, he said, adding that BJP govts were working towards realising it.He also recalled that a separate Union ministry for tribal development was established for the first time during the tenure of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. BJP subsequently constituted its Scheduled Tribe Morcha to enhance the educational, social, economic and political participation of tribal communities in Uttar Pradesh, he said.Scheduled Tribe Morcha state president Vidya Bhushan Gond said a series of programmes and campaigns would be organised across UP till Nov 18. He said Modi govt has decided to observe November 15, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) to recognise the rich history of tribal communities, their contribution to India’s freedom struggle and the sacrifices made by tribal icons.
