Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi along with Ministers Satya Kumar Yadav and G. Sandhya Rani and other leaders unveil a statue of Birsa Munda at Paderu on Sunday to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the tribal leader. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritized the empowerment of tribals. He also said that BJP is giving opportunity to leaders from ST community and examples are President of India and Chief Ministers of various states.
Mr. Majhi along with state ministers Satya Kumar Yadav and Gummadi Sandhya Rani, BJP state president PVN Madhav unveiled the statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda at Paderu. On this occasion, the 150th birth anniversary of the tribal leader is commemorated as Jan Jatiya Gourav Divas.
Birsa Munda was a tribal independence activist and folk hero belonging to the Munda tribe and was known for spearheading the tribal religious movement that arose in the Bengal Presidency in the late 19th century during British rule.
Mr. Majhi hailed Birsa Munda not only as a freedom fighter but also as a spiritual leader who, though he lived for only 25 years, inspired many with his fighting spirit. The Odisha Chief Minister said that the Center is taking steps for the upliftment of tribals by providing education through Ekalavya schools and improving healthcare by providing better medical facilities in remote areas. He added that the number of extremist affected areas in the country has come down from 126 to 38 districts, enabling the tribals to live a peaceful life.
He further said that forest products are being promoted through 195 specialized outlets which are improving the livelihood of the natives.
Mr. Madhav said Birsa Munda fought for tribal rights and paved the way for key laws like the 1/70 Act and the PESA Acts.
Published – 16 Nov 2025 20:35 IST
