Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, on the second-day visit to Shillong, joined the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas today, organised by the State Rural Employment Society and the C&RD Department, at the State Convention Center in Shillong. The event was graced by the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, prominent tribal leaders, and dignitaries from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia communities.The Union Minister, in his address, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate the fourth edition of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in Meghalaya. “This day is a tribute to the heroic legacy of Birsa Munda, a legendary tribal freedom fighter, whose sacrifices continue to inspire the fight for justice, equality, and the protection of tribal cultures and identities,” he said. The Union Minister paid tribute to the resilience and bravery of tribal communities who, through their sacrifices, have shaped the nation’s path to independence and contributed to the preservation of nature and culture.”In Shillong, among the three major tribal communities—the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia—I’m proud to witness the preservation and promotion of tribal culture. I recently visited the East Khasi Heritage Village and was deeply moved by the commitment to safeguarding sacred forests and the environment, a practice that transcends generations,” said the Union Minister, reflecting on his recent experiences in the state. “The protection of nature is a core value that the tribal communities have passed down, and it offers a valuable lesson for all of humanity.”
The Minister also acknowledged the significant progress made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, particularly in the development of infrastructure, education, and healthcare for tribal communities. He highlighted that the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has allocated ₹70,000 crore annually in scholarships for 30 lakh tribal students, built 1.5 crore toilets for 58 lakh tribal households under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and extended benefits to 1.2 crore tribal farmers under the PM Kisan Yojana. He further noted that the funding for tribal welfare has increased from ₹24,600 crore in 2014 to ₹1.23 lakh crore in 2024, marking a nearly fivefold rise.Additionally, the Union Minister pointed out that over 4.6 crore tribal individuals have been screened for sickle cell anemia, a deadly disease affecting many tribal populations. Museums have been established to honour tribal leaders, cultures and identity, and ₹ 24, 000 crore has been given for support of 45 lakh PVTGs beneficiaries under the PM Jan Man Yojana. He also mentioned that the number of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which provide quality education for tribal children, has risen from 123 number in 2014 to 476 schools across the country, benefiting tens of thousands of tribal students.”The government has also supported tribal farmers and entrepreneurs, with the number of forest produce items receiving Minimum Support Price (MSP) rising from