Prepare for Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Centre urges States

Ahead of the fifth Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on November 15, which will mark the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, the Union government has written to the US, including poll-bound Bihar and Union Territories, saying they “should” organize commemorative events at the state and district level from November 1 to November 15.

In a letter sent to Principal Secretaries of Tribal Welfare Departments in State and UT governments last week, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs said “all States/UTs should participate in celebrating the anniversary.”

“However, States where the model code of conduct is in force are requested to celebrate Diwas adhering to MCC,” the government said.

The letter asked States and UTs to “actively participate” in “opening or relief payments targeting tribal populations, initiation of tribal-focused schemes, capacity building” and highlight government programs such as PM-JANMAN, Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan.

The letter stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the national level event and the participation of 25 States and UTs, excluding Bihar, has been requested. There are no other proposed activities that do not clearly state which are MCC compliant and which are not.

Bihar, which has a Scheduled Tribe population of 1.68%, will vote on November 6 and 11. By-polls are scheduled to be held on November 11 in eight Assembly seats in Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan.

The government has proposed exhibition of ‘Tribal Village Vision 2030’ documents prepared under Adi Karmayogi programme, interactions of State VVIPs with PM-JANMAN beneficiaries, art exhibition of artworks of Eklavya schools students.

The government has suggested that States/UTs should organize health awareness campaigns through Mobile Medical Units as well as campaigns for saturation of individual mandates and competitions in schools and colleges to celebrate tribal heritage.

While the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct does not explicitly mention any rules regarding the celebration of an event like Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, some of the MCC’s rules for ruling parties prohibit Ministers from “using official machinery or personnel during electioneering exercises”; Use of “government transportation, including official aircraft, vehicles, machinery and personnel” to “advance the interests of the party in power.”