President Calls Tribal Development Officials ‘Change Agents’ of Inclusive Growth
Droupadi Murmu says holistic development of tribal communities is essential for building an inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047
President Droupadi Murmu during the inauguration of the National Conclave on Strengthening of Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) and Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday inaugurated the National Conclave on Strengthening of Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) and Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs), calling for a people-centric approach to ensure that welfare schemes reach every tribal family across the country.
The President also virtually inaugurated a Training Fab at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and 75 Space Labs in Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
Addressing participants, Murmu described the conclave as a gathering of “tribal change agents” and urged officials and stakeholders to take development programmes directly to tribal villages and households.
She said the collective deliberations of officials working at the state and project levels would help identify practical solutions to challenges facing tribal communities and strengthen the delivery of welfare initiatives at the grassroots.
Emphasising a human-centred approach to governance, the President said every project file and document should ultimately serve the needs of people. She urged agencies implementing tribal development programmes to focus on ensuring adequate nutrition for pregnant women, quality education for tribal children, dignified livelihoods for tribal youth, and effective access to welfare benefits for tribal families.
Murmu said all stakeholders must carry out their responsibilities with sensitivity and commitment so that development initiatives translate into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
She welcomed efforts to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems of tribal communities alongside modern development programmes.
Highlighting the transformative role of education, the President called for greater efforts towards education and skill development among tribal children and youth. She noted that around 500 Eklavya Model Residential Schools have already been established across the country to expand educational opportunities for tribal students.
Murmu said the nation is working towards the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047 and that the holistic development of tribal communities is central to achieving that vision.
“The holistic development of tribal communities constitutes an integral part of this objective and will lend the character of inclusive development to the nation’s progress,” she said.
The President expressed confidence that the recommendations and roadmap emerging from the conclave would help translate plans for tribal development into concrete action at the grassroots level and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach every eligible beneficiary.
