New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal for a tribal convention to mark 'Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas' in remembrance of tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda. PM Modi launched several initiatives for the welfare of the tribal community. PM Modi will also inaugurate the "most modern" Habibganj railway station in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal, which got renamed after the Gond queen Rani Kamlapati.
PM Modi participated in the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas Mahasammelan at Jambori Maidan in the state capital of Bhopal and launch the Ration Aapke Gram scheme. Addressing the event, PM Modi said, " Today India is celebrating its 1st 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas'. For the 1st time after independence, art, culture of tribal society & their contribution towards freedom struggle and nation-building is being proudly remembered and honoured. "
PM Modi also remembered the notable historian & Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare as he passed away this morning. He said, " I came to know this morning that he passed away. His contribution in taking the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to common people is priceless."
The Prime Minister further said, "When we discuss tribal society's contribution to nation-building, some people get surprised. They can't believe that it had a big role in strengthening India's culture. It's because the nation was either never told about it, was kept in the dark, or very limited info was given on it."
Targetting the previous governments and opposition parties, Prime Minister Modi said, "I had been seeing how some political parties kept the tribal society devoid of all facilities. Votes were asked to get rid of all issues. They came to power but things that needed to be done weren't done. Their society was left helpless."
Prime Minister also walked through the exhibition of products made by Janjatiya self-help groups and a photo exhibition of martyrs and heroes of the freedom struggle from the Janjatiya community of Madhya Pradesh. He also handed over appointment letters to newly appointed Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups teachers.
PM Modi was accompanied by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Prime Minister also laid down the foundation stone of 50 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country in states and UT including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
PM Modi also handed over the genetic counselling cards to beneficiaries, marking the launch of the Madhya Pradesh Sickle Cell (Hemoglobinopathy) Mission, which has been developed to screen and manage patients with sickle cell anaemia, Thalassemia and other Hemoglobinopathies. The mission also aims to increase public awareness about these diseases, whose impact is seen to be more profound on the tribal community of Madhya Pradesh.
Who was Rani Kamlapati?
According to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rani Kamapati was the last Hindu queen of Bhopal. Her kingdom was usurped by Afghan commander Dost Mohammed by deceit under a conspiracy. When she saw that victory was not possible, she committed 'Jal Jauhar' (a practice of committing suicide) to save her respect. He said Rani Kamlapati's son Naval Shah had been killed at Lalghati, a part of Bhopal.
About Rani Kamlapati Railway station
The redeveloped Rani Kamlapati Railway station, named after brave and fearless Queen Kamalapati of the Gond kingdom, is the first world-class railway station in Madhya Pradesh.
The station, redeveloped in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, has been designed as a green building with modern world-class amenities which has also taken into account ease of mobility for ‘divyangjans’ (physically challenged). The station has been revamped at a cost of around ₹450 crore. It is on the same lines as Germany's Heidelberg railway station, The station will boast of food courts, restaurants, air-conditioned waiting rooms, VIP lounge. Escalators and lifts have also been installed at the station to reach the platform.
The station is also developed as a hub for integrated multi-modal transport.