Rourkela: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday named a road in Rourkela after tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 1,345 crore, as part of the State’s celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of the tribal icon. Attending the State-level Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebration in Rourkela, Majhi laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 609 crore in Sundargarh district. “The road from Hanuman Batika Square to Power House Square will now be known as Birsa Munda Road in honour of the legendary tribal leader,” he said. Majhi stated that Birsa Munda’s revolution against British rule contributed significantly to the history of the nation’s freedom struggle.
“His rebellion evolved into a major tribal movement spanning Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh,” he added. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from Gujarat, paying homage to Birsa Munda and emphasizing his sacrifices. He reiterated his government’s commitment to tribal empowerment through initiatives like PM Janman Yojana, Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, and Adi Karma Yogi Abhiyan. In his address, the Chief Minister expressed his government’s dedication to the comprehensive development of the tribal community to which he belongs. He mentioned measures such as granting forest land rights, supporting livelihoods through the Janjati Jeevika Mission, and offering financial assistance under the ‘Shaheed Madho Singh Hathkharcha Yojana’ to reduce school dropout rates among tribal students.
“The election of India’s President from a tribal background exemplifies tribal empowerment under Modi’s leadership,” Majhi remarked. Earlier that day, he garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda near the Assembly in Bhubaneswar. In a social media post, former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik stated, “On the birth anniversary of the revolutionary freedom fighter and people’s hero, the martyr Birsa Munda, I offer my tributes. His sacrifice in the service of Mother Land is invaluable. He remains an eternal ideal in the battle for dignity to protect the interests of the Adivasis.”
