Ranchi: CM Hemant Soren said, “I am proud that I am a tribal chief minister.”
Today there are thirteen crore tribals in the country’s population of 125 crores.
I am committed to preserving the identity of these tribals.
Chief Minister Mr. Hemant Soren today expressed his views in a discussion on “Tribalism: A Way of Life” organized with Outlook magazine on the occasion of the closing ceremony of Jharkhand Tribal Festival-2023.
The Chief Minister said that our government is trying to connect all the tribal communities.
They are being linked to development.
Many such decisions have been taken in the government, due to which the tribals are getting a separate identity.
What is Tribal Identity?
On this question, the Chief Minister said that the search for tribal identity is still going on.
The origin of the state of Jharkhand also lies with the tribal identity.
But, even today they are fighting for their existence.
Tribal festival was never organized after the formation of integrated Bihar and separate Jharkhand state.
But, our government has been organizing Adivasi Mahotsav for the last two years.
Its purpose is to advance the tribal identity.
There is a conspiracy going on to erase the identity of 13 crore tribals in the country’s population of 125 hundred, but we will not let this happen.
The tribals have had a distinct identity since time immemorial and will continue to do so in the future.
What will tribals gain from separate Sarna code? In response to this question, the Chief Minister said that the tribal communities living in the country should get some separate identity.
Why are efforts being made to end the special place of tribals in history?
We need to do some serious brainstorming on this.
If tribals have to be given a separate identity, then there should be some separate arrangement for them.
In this series, our government has passed the proposal of Sarna separate religion code from the assembly and sent it to the central government.
Just as the tribals have been fighting a long struggle for their existence, in the future also the tribal Sarna are ready to fight a long struggle for a separate religion code, and in this the tribals of Jharkhand are playing the most important role.
Your grandfather and father fought a long struggle against exploitation.
You are in active politics today.
How much influence do your family members have on you?
In response to this question, the Chief Minister said that brave martyrs like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Sido Kanhu have been born from the land of Jharkhand.
Those who sacrificed themselves while fighting against the exploitation and oppression of the British and Mahajans.
My grandfather and father have struggled a long time in this episode.
I can say that his struggle against exploitation and oppression has served as an inspiration for me and has been passed down from generation to generation.
In response to a question on the controversy regarding tribals, the Chief Minister said that there are separate ministries and departments of the central and state governments for tribals.
But controversy is arising in the name of tribals.
Sometimes it is called a forest dweller and sometimes something else.
I believe that tribals are connected to water, forest and land, and this is also their identity.
What is the thought behind organizing the Tribal Festival and how will the state move forward with the development and recognition of tribals?
On this question, the Chief Minister said that maximum mineral resources of the country are available in Jharkhand.
Industries all over the country run on the minerals of Jharkhand, but still this state is backward and its people are poor.
When our government was formed, we thought about it seriously and then came to know that an attempt is being made to erase the identity of the tribals here.
It was a very strange situation somewhere along with the tribe.
In such a situation, our government has tried to connect the tribals with development and take them forward.
In this direction, we have taken many such decisions, which should have been implemented many years ago, but unfortunately could not be implemented.
Keeping the identity of the tribals intact, how will we establish a balance between water-forest-land and development?
In response to the question, the Chief Minister said that today big organizations are working for environmental protection.
There are many programs like seminars, symposiums and workshops in big hotels.
But, climate change is not being controlled.
But why so?
I believe that those who are policy makers, they debate about climate change, but when it comes to policy making, they spoil it instead of controlling it.
On the other hand, tribals have a deep connection with water, forest and land.
Our government is committed to controlling climate change.
In this direction, the government is giving 5 units of free electricity to those who plant a tree in their residential premises.
Many other similar decisions have been taken.
I can say that we are taking development forward by making coordination with water, forest and land.
In the closing ceremony of this festival, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren, Minister Alamgir Alam, Minister Champai Soren, Minister Joba Majhi, Minister Badal, Minister Hafizul Hasan, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Chief Secretary Several dignitaries including Sukhdev Singh, Director General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Rajeev Arun Ekka, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Vandana Dadel and Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Kumar Choubey were present.