Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday paid rich tributes to legendary revolutionary Bhagaban Birsa Munda on his 151st birth anniversary, observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister visited Rourkela and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 1345 crore for Sundargarh district and laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 609 crore.
Majhi also named the road from Hanuman Batika Square to Power House Square in Rourkela as Birsa Munda Road, honouring the legendary tribal leader.
The CM said Birsa Munda’s uprising was a major tribal movement spanning Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for celebrating Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas nationwide.
The Chief Minister said the state government has taken a number of steps for the all-round development of the tribal communities, who are being empowered with the grant of forest land rights. They are being empowered by providing livelihood assistance to tribal families through the Chief Minister’s Tribal Livelihood Mission.
Financial assistance is also being provided under the Shaheed Madho Singh Hatakharcha Scheme to prevent school dropout rates of tribal students, Majhi said, adding that the biggest example of tribal empowerment under the leadership of Modiji is the President of the country and himself.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Shaheed Birsa Munda from Gujarat and addressed the countrymen.
The Chief Minister highlighted initiatives for tribal empowerment, including PM Janman Yojana, Dharti Aba Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan, and Adikarma Yogi Abhiyan. He said the state government is working for the all-round development of the tribal community, granting forest land rights and providing livelihood assistance.
Deputy Speaker Bhavani Shankar Bhoi, MLAs Sarada Prasad Nayak and Durga Charan Tanti, and other dignitaries attended the event.