Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Tags:

• GS Paper - 1

• Modern Indian History

• GS Paper - 2

• Important Personalities

• Government Policies & Interventions

• Issues Related to SCs & STs

For Prelims: Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Birsa Munda, Santhals, Pradhan

Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, Van Dhan Vikas
Kendras, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, National Overseas
Scholarship

For Mains: Tribal Development Initiatives, Tribal Movements and India's

Freedom Struggle
Source: PIB

Why in News?
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, celebrated annually on 15th November, honors the
invaluable contributions of India’s tribal communities, especially in the
nation’s freedom struggle.

▪ This day marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a

revered tribal leader and freedom fighter. The Prime Minister
of India released a commemorative coin and postal stamp
in honour of Birsa Munda, paying tribute to his enduring
legacy.
What is Janjatiya Gaurav Divas?
▪ Background: First celebrated in 2021, the day was instituted
to recognize the sacrifices of tribal freedom fighters as part
of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrating 75 years of
India's independence.
o Tribal communities,
including Santhals, Tamars, Bhils, Khasis, and Miz
 os, led numerous anti-colonial movements, such
as Birsa Munda's Ulgulan
(Revolution), demonstrating remarkable courage
and sacrifice.
▪ Key Highlights of the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2024:
o PM-JANMAN: The PM participated in the
inauguration of 11,000 houses under the Pradhan
Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-
JANMAN).
• 23 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) were
launched to improve healthcare
accessibility in remote tribal areas.
o DAJGUA: Additional 30 MMUs inaugurated under
the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
(DAJGUA).
o Tribal Entrepreneurship & Education: The PM
inaugurated 300 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras
(VDVKs) and 10 Eklavya Model Residential
Schools(EMRS) for tribal students, while also
laying the foundation stone for 25 more EMRS.
o Cultural Preservation: Two Tribal Freedom
Fighters' Museums were inaugurated in
Chhindwara and Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh along
with two Tribal Research Institutes in Srinagar,
Jammu & Kashmir, and Gangtok, Sikkim.
Who was Birsa Munda?
▪ Early Life: Born on 15th November 1875, in the Chota
Nagpur Plateau region. He belonged to the Munda tribe, an
indigenous community in present-day Jharkhand.
o Spent childhood moving between villages with his
parents, experiencing firsthand the challenges
faced by tribal communities.
▪ Founder of the Birsait Sect: Munda became aware of
the British colonial rule and missionary efforts to convert
tribal populations.
o Birsa Munda established the Birsait sect, which
sought to revive tribal identity and resist religious
conversion.
o Attracted followers from the Munda and Oraon
communities(ethnic group inhabiting the Indian
states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and
Chhattisgarh), uniting them against colonial
and missionary control.
▪ Role in Tribal Mobilization: Spent significant time
in Chaibasa, Jharkhand from 1886 to 1890, where he was
influenced by the Sardars' agitation.
o Became deeply involved in anti-British and anti-
missionary activities, strengthening his resolve to
fight for tribal rights.
 • Mobilized the tribal community to
challenge the British and protect tribal
lands and culture.
o In 1899, he launched the Ulgulan (The Great
Tumult) movement, which included guerrilla
warfare tactics to resist British authority and
promote the establishment of a self-governed
tribal state known as "Birsa Raj"
▪ Arrest and Death: Arrested by British police in 1900, with
his guerilla group in the Jamkopai forest.
o Died under mysterious circumstances in Ranchi
jail on 9th June 1900, at the young age of 25.
▪ Legacy: Known for compelling colonial authorities to
introduce laws protecting tribal land rights.
o The state of Jharkhand was established on his
birth anniversary in 2000, honoring his
contributions to tribal rights and the freedom
movement.
Sardari Agitation
▪ The Sardari Agitation(1858-90) was a response to the socio-
economic exploitation in Chotanagpur, triggered
by agrarian discontent over forced labor
(beggars) and illegal rent hikes by intermediaries. Led by
the Sardars, the movement aimed to resist these oppressive
practices.
What are India’s Key Initiatives Supporting Tribal
Development?
▪ Financial and Social Initiatives:
o Financial Commitments: The Union
Budget allocated Rs 13,000 crore to the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs in 2024-25, reflecting a 73.6%
increase from 2023-24.
o DAJGUA: Launched with a Rs 79,156 crore outlay
to address social infrastructure gaps across tribal
areas, benefiting over 5.38 crore people in 63,843
villages.
o PM-JANMAN: Initiated in 2023 to
support Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
(PVTGs) with targeted schemes, including
 healthcare, financial inclusion, and community
support.
o Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana:
PMAAGY aims to provide basic infrastructure in
villages with a significant tribal population.
• Around 36500 villages having 50% tribal
population and 500 Scheduled Tribes
(STs) have been identified for providing
basic infrastructure facilities, including
villages in the Aspirational
Districts identified by NITI Aayog
(National Institution for Transforming
India).
▪ Education:
o EMRS: Established to offer quality education
to Scheduled Tribes students in remote areas,
helping bridge educational gaps.
o Adivasi Shiksha Rinn Yojana (ASRY): Offers soft
loans for tribal students pursuing higher
education.
o Scholarships for Tribal Students: Scholarships
include Pre-Matric and Post-Matric
Scholarships, National Overseas Scholarship for
international education, and National Fellowship
for financial support in higher education.
▪ Income Generation Schemes: The Term Loan Scheme
offers up to 90% business loans, Adivasi Mahila
Sashaktikaran Yojna provides concessional loans for tribal
women to support entrepreneurship, and Micro Credit
Scheme supports tribal groups with loans up to Rs 5 lakh.
▪ Health and Welfare Initiatives:
o Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission
o Mission Indradhanush
o Nikshay Mitra Initiative
o National Health Mission (NHM)
o Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana