Dreams of Dharti Aba and Efforts Being Made in Madhya Pradesh
Dr. Deepak Rai, Research Writer & Journalist
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| MP Govt. and CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Work For Tribals |
Today, as we celebrate the completion of the 150th birth anniversary of 'Dharti Aba' Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the entire nation is immersed in the joy of 'Tribal Pride Day.' This day is not merely a commemoration, but a day to express gratitude to the countless tribal heroes who, even at the cost of their lives, protected the self-respect, culture, and personal dignity of this nation. Madhya Pradesh, home to the largest tribal population in the country, has been an important chapter in this glorious saga. The land here is irrigated by the valor of countless heroes like Rayanna, Sidho-Kanhu Santhal, Baba Tilka Manjhi, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Gundadhur, Surendra Sai, immortal martyr Shankar Shah, Raghunath Shah, Tantya Bhil, Khajya Nayak, Bhima Nayak, and Jhalkari Bai. Therefore, the question naturally arises: against this historical backdrop, what is the current Madhya Pradesh government doing to uplift its tribal community? It would be pertinent to analyze the vision and actions of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's government, which is about to complete two years in office in a month and a quarter. From the very beginning of its tenure, the Dr. Mohan Yadav government made it clear that tribal welfare is not only a matter of economic but also of cultural respect. After the formation of the government, the first cabinet meeting was held in Jabalpur in January 2024, in the name of the brave women Rani Durgavati and Rani Avantibai. This trend did not stop there; By holding a cabinet meeting on October 5, 2024, on the birth anniversary of the brave queen Rani Durgavati, in her first capital, Singrampur, the government sent a clear message that honoring tribal heroes is not merely symbolic but also a policy-making one. In this vein, renaming Alirajpur district to "Alirajpur" is not merely a name change, but a symbol of respect for the identity of the tribal community and their cultural renaissance. The biggest evidence of any government's priorities is its budget. The Dr. Mohan Yadav government has made a significant impact on this front. The budget has been increased unprecedentedly to ₹47,295 crore (₹47,295 crore). This represents a massive increase of ₹6,491 crore (15.91%) compared to the previous year. This figure demonstrates the government's commitment to welfare with all its heart, mind, and money. This increased budget is giving impetus to ambitious schemes like 'PM Janman' and 'Dharti Aba', which directly aim at the overall development of backward and vulnerable tribes especially Baiga, Bharia, Saharia. One of the biggest challenges facing tribal communities is access to healthcare. The government has taken this on a mission mode. The "Sickle Cell Hemoglobinopathy Mission" has been implemented in all 89 tribal development blocks of Madhya Pradesh. This is significant because sickle cell anemia has been a major health challenge in this community. Distributing over one crore sickle cell screening and counseling cards so far is a major achievement. In addition, 66 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are operating in 21 districts to provide access to healthcare services in remote areas. The "Aahar Anudan Yojana," which provides a monthly nutritional grant of Rs. 1,500 to women heads of Scheduled Tribes, is directly improving maternal and child health. Madhya Pradesh's ranking first in the country in the construction of Anganwadi buildings under the "PM Jan-Mann Yojana" reflects this commitment. Education holds the key to the upliftment of any community. The Dr. Mohan Yadav government has created a new ecosystem of opportunities for tribal students. The most striking example of this is the performance of tribal students in difficult examinations like JEE and NEET. The success of 51 students in JEE Main, 10 in JEE Advanced, and 115 in NEET in 2024-25 is nothing short of revolutionary, especially when the figure was only two in 2022-23. This performance has placed Madhya Pradesh at the second position in the national rankings. A vast infrastructure is behind this success. There are 34,557 educational institutions (primary schools, ashrams, hostels, Eklavya schools, etc.) operating in the state. Scholarships in hostels are now offered for 12 months instead of 10 months. Initiatives like the 'Aakanksha Yojana' and the 'Rani Durgavati Training Academy' (where free coaching will be provided) are ensuring that talent does not face a lack of resources. Most importantly, the initiative to include the biography of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji and the valorous tales of other brave heroes in the school curriculum is instilling a sense of pride in the new generation towards their roots. The soul of tribal society is linked to "water, forest, and land." The PESA Act has played a crucial role in preserving indigenous culture and empowering village councils. Tribal village councils now have genuine control over their biological resources, land, and traditional systems. They are formulating their own village development plans, establishing a strong foundation for self-governance in tribal areas. On the livelihood front, increasing the remuneration of millions of tendu leaf collectors to ₹4,000 per standard sack is a major economic boost. The process of establishing separate battalions for Baiga, Bharia, and Saharia under the "Shaurya Sankalp Yojana" is providing them with a unique opportunity to serve the nation. Lord Birsa Munda called for the "Ulgulan" to protect water, forest, land, and our culture. Today, the Madhya Pradesh government, under the leadership of Dr. Mohan Yadav, is living out that same call in a new context. This government is not limited to welfare schemes, but is focused on the "respect," "empowerment," and "self-governance" of tribal communities. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's government is working to ensure the welfare of the tribal community and laying the foundation for a culturally rich and prosperous Madhya Pradesh, as envisioned by "Dharti Aba."



