New Delhi, 15 November (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programme being organised in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, through video conferencing at 11 am on Sunday. The programme marks the 151st birth anniversary of ‘Dharti Aaba’ Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and the Prime Minister will address the gathering on the occasion.

During the event, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for 246 development projects worth approximately Rs. 3,000 crore. The projects are aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, livelihoods and community infrastructure for tribal communities across the country, according to an official statement.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate 173 projects, including 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal students and 100 multipurpose centres under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). These centres will function as hubs for public service delivery and community activities. He will also inaugurate several other projects under PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).

Among the key initiatives to be inaugurated are the new building of the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Aizawl, Mizoram. Both projects are intended to preserve and promote tribal culture, heritage and history.

The museum will commemorate the courage, valour and sacrifices of Mizo tribal freedom fighters while showcasing the rich cultural traditions and historical legacy of the Mizo people. It has been named after Ropuiliani, a 19th-century Mizo chieftainess who courageously resisted British colonial rule and is remembered as a symbol of tribal resistance and sacrifice.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for 19 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools, reaffirming the government's commitment to providing quality education to tribal children. In addition, he will lay the foundation stone for 12 Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) to improve market access for tribal producers. Another 42 projects under PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA will also be taken up for foundation stone laying.

The programme will mark the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, which has been observed across the country from November 1 to 15. A range of activities have been organised at the national and grassroots levels during the fortnight. These include the President's interaction with students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, the National Tribal Literary Festival, training programmes for tribal healers, and health and nutrition camps for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Community service initiatives have also been conducted in tribal villages under the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan as part of the nationwide celebrations.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar