ગુજરાતી
English
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today inaugurated the 1 st Rashtriya
Adivasi Kala Mahotsav-2019 at Dahod, considered as the eastern gateway of Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that promoting tribal art in India and abroad is the best
way for the conservation of tribal skill and talent; the Central Government and Gujarat
Government are doing exemplary work in this direction.
He said that Central Government has increased budget allocation for tribal development
from Rs.39,135-crore last year to Rs.50,000-crore this year. He said the Gujarat
Government has built 1,775 new classrooms in tribal areas, and has provided gas cylinders
at concessional rates to tribal hostels for the first time. Over Rs.82,000-crore has been
allocated so far for Van Bandhu project for the entire tribal belt from Ambaji to Umargam.
Mr. Rupani said his government is for balanced growth of the state from hilly tribal areas to
the coastal areas. He listed the special projects for tribal people, including Raksha Shakti
and Forensic Universities, engineering and medical colleges, 6 (six) tribal museums in tribal
areas, electricity connection for tribal farmers owning less than 4-acre, drinking water and
irrigation facilities, land rights to 84,000 tribal families, tourism development centres like
tribal Govind Guru Dham at Karath-Kamboi.
The Chief Minister dedicated Rs.2.63-crore Adijati Bhavan to the public, laid the foundation
stone of Rs.18-crore sewage treatment plant, and distributed various types of vehicles and
assistive kits worth Rs.1.16-crore on the occasion.
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jashwantsinh Bhabhor complimented Gujarat for
being on the top for tribal development, adding feathers to its cap by hosting the 1 st national
level tribal art festival at Dahod. Prime Minister Modi has backed the development of
Dahod. He said the Centre has earmarked Rs.70,000-crore for encouraging self-
employment among tribal youth
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Forest Bachubhai Khabad said that 700 hundreds tribal
artisans from different states are participating in this 3-day first-ever national festival of its
kind.
Minister of State for Cultural Activities Ishwarsinh Solanki said the current festival should
provide a glimpse of the tribal wealth to the new generation. He mentioned the rise of Sarita
Gaikwad as sportswoman from a tribal background. He recalled that Dahod had hosted a
similar tribal arts festival in 1990-91.
