Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: 150th Birth Anniversary Year celebration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda

1. Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is celebrated every year on 15th November to honor the contributions of India’s tribal communities, especially in the country’s fight for independence.
2. The day marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a well-known tribal leader and freedom fighter.
3. On this day, the Prime Minister of India released a commemorative coin and postal stamp to remember Birsa Munda’s lasting impact.

What is Janjatiya Gaurav Divas?

1. 1st celebrated in 2021, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas was started as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a year-long celebration of India’s 75 years of independence.
2. This day was created to recognize the sacrifices of tribal freedom fighters from various tribal communities, such as the Santhals, Tamars, Bhils, Khasis, and Mizos.
3. These groups, like Birsa Munda, led many movements against British colonial rule, showing great bravery and sacrifice.

Key Highlights of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2024:

1. PM-JANMAN: The Prime Minister launched 11,000 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) program to improve the living conditions of tribal communities.

2. Healthcare Improvements:

   1. 23 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) were introduced to bring healthcare to remote tribal areas.
   2. An additional 30 MMUs were also launched under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).

3. Tribal Business & Education:

   1. 300 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) were launched to help tribal people start businesses.
   2. 10 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) were opened, and the foundation stone for 25 more EMRS was laid to provide better education for tribal children.

4. Cultural Preservation:

   1. Two Tribal Freedom Fighters' Museums were opened in Chhindwara and Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
   2. Two Tribal Research Institutes were set up in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir and Gangtok, Sikkim to study and preserve tribal history and culture.

Who was Birsa Munda?

1. Birsa Munda was born on 15th November 1875 in the Chota Nagpur Plateau area, now part of Jharkhand.
2. He belonged to the Munda tribe, a tribal community in India.
3. His childhood was spent moving between villages, where he saw the problems faced by tribal people under British rule.
4. Founder of the Birsait Sect: Birsa Munda started the Birsait sect to protect tribal culture and resist the efforts of missionaries to convert tribal people to other religions.
5. He gathered followers from his own community and others to fight back against colonial rule.
6. Role in Tribal Mobilization: Birsa Munda spent several years in Chaibasa (Jharkhand) from 1886-1890, where he was inspired by other tribal movements.
7. He helped unite tribal communities to protect their land, culture, and rights from the British.
8. Ulgulan Movement: In 1899, Birsa Munda started the Ulgulan (The Great Tumult) movement, which used guerrilla tactics to fight the British and promote a tribal state called Birsa Raj.
9. Arrest and Death: Birsa Munda was captured by the British in 1900 and died under mysterious circumstances in Ranchi jail on 9th June 1900, at just 25 years old.
10. Legacy: Birsa Munda is remembered for pushing the British to make laws that protect tribal land.
11. Jharkhand state was formed in his honor on his birth anniversary in 2000.

India’s Key Initiatives Supporting Tribal Development:

Financial and Social Initiatives:

1. Union Budget Allocation: The Union Budget for 2024-25 has allocated Rs 13,000 crore to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, a 73.6% increase from the previous year, showing the government's strong support for tribal development.
2. DAJGUA: The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) was launched with an investment of Rs 79,156 crore to improve infrastructure in tribal areas, benefiting more than 5.38 crore people across 63,843 villages.
3. PM-JANMAN: Launched in 2023, this scheme focuses on supporting the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) with special programs for healthcare, financial inclusion, and community support.
4. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): This program is aimed at providing basic services in villages with large tribal populations. 36,500 villages with at least 50% tribal population are being developed under this scheme, including those in Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog.

Education:

1. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): These schools provide quality education to tribal students, particularly in remote areas, helping reduce the education gap between tribal and non-tribal communities.
2. Adivasi Shiksha Rinn Yojana (ASRY): This program gives soft loans to tribal students who want to study further.
3. Scholarships for Tribal Students: Various scholarships are available for tribal students, including Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, National Overseas Scholarship, and National Fellowship, which help them pursue education both in India and abroad.

Income Generation Schemes:

1. Term Loan Scheme: This scheme offers up to 90% business loans to tribal entrepreneurs to support their businesses.
2. Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana: This program gives low-interest loans to tribal women to help them start their own businesses.
3. Micro Credit Scheme: This scheme offers loans up to Rs 5 lakh to tribal groups for setting up small businesses or income-generating activities.

Health and Welfare Initiatives:

1. Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission: This mission aims to screen and treat sickle cell anemia in tribal areas.
2. Mission Indradhanush: A health initiative focused on improving vaccination rates in tribal communities.
3. Nikshay Mitra Initiative: This program supports the treatment of Tuberculosis in tribal regions.
4. National Health Mission (NHM): A national program that works to improve healthcare services, especially in underserved tribal areas.
5. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Provides financial support to pregnant women and mothers in tribal areas to help with healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth.

By celebrating Birsa Munda and the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, the government recognizes the vital role that tribal communities have played in India’s freedom struggle and continues to focus on their empowerment and development.

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