Minister Rai’s address marks grand Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas celebration in Lakhipur

Organised by the District Administration, Cachar, the event drew tribal leaders, citizens, students, officials and youth from across Lakhipur co-district, united in their homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. In his expressive address, the Minister described Birsa Munda as “a heroic icon whose fearless struggle for the rights and dignity of tribal communities continues to guide the nation’s development vision.”

Linking the celebration to the ongoing Janajatiya Gaurav Pakhwada being observed across Assam from November 1 to 15, Minister Rai praised the widespread public participation and the administration’s focused outreach in tribal belts. He applauded the District Administration’s initiatives ranging from health camps and financial literacy drives to Jan Sunwai grievance redressals and cultural sensitisation programmes, calling them a model of responsive and inclusive governance.

Highlighting key government schemes transforming the lives of tribal families, the Minister noted the opportunities created through PM Matsya Sampada Yojana for fisheries development and entrepreneurship. He further emphasised the impact of schemes such as MGNREGA, DAJGUA, and 15th Finance Commission Grants in strengthening rural livelihoods and infrastructure. Social security interventions including PMAY, Old Age Pension, and Orunodoi 3.0, he said, continue to reinforce dignity, stability, and financial support for vulnerable households.

Minister Rai also stressed the need for deeper integration of tribal families into the digital and financial ecosystem, encouraging adoption of Jan Dhan Yojana and the wider umbrella of Digital India for secure, cashless transactions. Concluding his address, he said, “Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas is a celebration of identity, pride and progress. Let us carry forward the values for which Bhagwan Birsa Munda lived and sacrificed.”

Earlier in the day, the celebration commenced with a cleanliness drive across tribal areas under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, setting a purposeful tone. Fulertal Multipurpose Hall soon transformed into a vibrant cultural arena, with 14 tribal stalls displaying indigenous handicrafts, artefacts, traditional cuisine and artisanal skills. Departmental stalls on fisheries, financial literacy and Aadhaar services also witnessed heavy footfall, many inaugurated by the Minister.

A pivotal highlight of the programme was the launch of the Tribal Parliament Model under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, an innovative governance mechanism aimed at empowering grassroots leadership and ensuring faster, accountable delivery of government services. The initiative was widely welcomed by the community, signalling readiness for participatory governance at the local level.

While in his welcome address,Cachar District Commissioner Shri Mridul Yadav reiterated Cachar’s commitment to tribal welfare, preservation of cultural heritage and strengthening of community institutions. He termed the celebration a significant milestone toward strengthening last-mile connectivity in governance and amplifying the voices of tribal communities in policymaking.

Floral tributes were offered to Bhagwan Birsa Munda by Minister Kaushik Rai, DC Mridul Yadav and senior officials. The atmosphere remained spirited with traditional tribal sports, including bamboo standing competitions and indigenous games, while cultural troupes presented captivating performances that reflected the valley’s diversity and artistic heritage.

The event was also attended by the District Development Commissioner , Norsing Bey, Chief Executive Officer of Cachar Zilla parishad, Pranab Kumar Bora, Dhruba Jyoti Pathak Co-district commissioner, Lakhipur, Ruli Daulagupu , Senior Development Officer Transformation and Development Branch ,Biprajit Dutta, Lead District Manager DM UBI, Sailesh Singh AE Binnakandi Development Block, Rajkumar Roy AEE Rajabazar development block, Saptajit dey, AEE Lakhipur block, Kishore chakraborty BDO Lakhipur block.

The event concluded with the felicitation of around ten tribal achievers, sportspersons and contributors, honoured by the Minister and dignitaries for their noteworthy contributions to Cachar’s cultural identity and community upliftment.

This is stated in a press release issued by Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.