New Delhi, November 15: On the occasion of Tribal Pride Day, the central government on Friday announced to rename Sarai Kale Khan Chowk in Delhi to Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a grand statue of Birsa Munda at Bansera Park near Sarai Kale Khan on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda.
Addressing the program, Home Minister Amit Shah said that in the year 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as ‘Tribal Pride Day’. Lord Birsa Munda was born on this day in a small village in Jharkhand. Shah said that to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the next one year till November 15, 2025 will be celebrated as ‘Tribal Pride Year’.
Amit Shah said that Bhagwan Birsa Munda not only became the savior of his original culture for the tribals, but at the young age of 25, he explained through his actions how life should be and for whom and what should be the aim of life. Certainly, Bhagwan Birsa Munda is one of the great heroes of independence.
Home Minister said that at a very young age, Bhagwan Birsa Munda raised his voice against conversion during his secondary education. When the whole of India and two-thirds of the world was ruled by the British, at that time the child Birsa Munda showed the bravery of standing firmly against conversion and later this determination and bravery transformed into a hero of this country.
He said that from the jail of Ranchi to the Queen of England, the national hero Birsa Munda became the voice of the countrymen.
The Union Home Minister said that the tribals participated enthusiastically in the freedom struggle against the British across the country, but unfortunately after independence these great heroes were forgotten.
Amit Shah said that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot of work for tribal pride. The Union Home Minister said that in the earlier governments, there was a budget of only Rs 28,000 crore for the development of tribes, whereas the Modi government has made a provision of Rs 1,33,000 crore for the development of tribals in the budget for the year 2024-25. Under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh โโGram Yojana, all the basic facilities have been fully provided in 26,428 tribal villages. Under the District Mineral Foundation Scheme, Rs 97 thousand crore was distributed in tribal areas.
Shah added that also, 708 Eklavya Model Residential Schools were built, Rs 15,000 crore under Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission and Rs 24,000 crore under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Unnat Gram Abhiyan have been allocated for the complete development of 63,000 villages.
On this occasion, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the Chowk outside the ISBT bus stand in Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi will now be known as Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He said that the Chowk has been renamed in honor of freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
He said that seeing this statue and the name of the Chowk, not only the citizens of Delhi but also the people coming to the international bus stand will definitely be inspired by the life of Birsa Munda.
Many dignitaries including Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra were present on the occasion.
