New Delhi: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday said that the Central Government was committed to provide the best education facilities to the tribal students so that they could showcase their talent on the international forum.
Munda, also the former Jharkhand Chief Minister, told this while addressing thousands of students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) during Samvaad, a virtual interaction programme, organised the Ministry to mark the Janjatiya Gaurav diwas (International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples).
He said that the Government has taken up the challenge of education of tribal population in mission mode and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is striving hard to catapult the aspiring tribal youths on the international levels. “The EMRS will provide quality education for all round development of the tribal students. Tribal students can avail the scholarship facility for higher education including overseas education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides 100% funding to students for the same,” said the Union Minister.
In a gesture to apprise the younger generations about core ideas of tribal culture, Munda urged the students to write essays on tribal heroes like Birsa Munda and send it to the Ministry. He said the outstanding contributions would be acknowledged and rewarded by the Ministry.
The Minister said that the tribal culture understands the importance of Jal, Jungle and Jameen, and hence everyone in the society must come forward and plant saplings around their habitats. The students were particularly urged to plant trees in their schools, villages to conserve their environment and inspire others to take up the plantation drive. About one lakh students enrolled in 378 EMRS participated in the online programme being coordinated from Delhi.
Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti Bisweshwar Tuduon and Secretary of Tribal Affairs Ministry Anil Kumar Jha also participated in the interactive event, which started with presentation of a welcome song by EMRS students from Kujra, Jharkhand.
Students from EMRSs while interacting with Munda expressed their happiness appointment of Droupadi Murmu as the first tribal President of the country. The students were also exhorted to participate enthusiastically in Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration.
On the occasion, Tudu said that teachers and administration must ensure that, along with good marks, students must develop as good citizens and good human beings also. “The student must not forget essence of their own culture under the influence of western culture,” added Tudu.
Tribal Affairs Secretary Jha said that education opens the door of success by ensuring all round development of the person. Each school and student must set its own goals and try to excel them, he urged.
