Odisha To Hold Nearly 7000 Gram Sabhas In 27 Dists On Tribal Icon Birsa Munda’s 150th Birth Anniversary

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has chalked out elaborate plans to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of legendary tribal freedom fighter Birsa Mund on November 15.

Sharing details about the programmes planned to be held on the day, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik told reporters that the day will be observed as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’.

A host of events are going to be organised all over the state as a mark of honour to the tribal icon, he said.

The Minister stated that gram sabhas are proposed to be held in 27 districts, including seven tribal-dominated districts, of the state on the occasion.

Arrangements are being made to organise a total of 6667 gram sabhas at 2408 panchayats spread over 234 blocks of these 27 districts on that day, Naik said.

While Sarpanches will preside over the gram sabhas being organised on the occasion, the panchayat executive officers (PEOs) will act as coordinators, he said.

Stressing that the meetings will focus on the rights of tribal people, the Minister said that different aspects of the Forest Rights Act and PESA law will be discussed threadbare during the deliberations.

It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to launch the Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha scheme of the Odisha government at an event in Sundargarh district on the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda. The scheme will offer an annual scholarship to tribal students.