Highlight Massive Central Support for Tribal Welfare and Regional Development

metro india news  I hyderabad

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and Union Minister for Coal & Mines G. Kishan Reddy visited the Medaram shrine on Thursday. The Ministers offered prayers to the tribal deities and performed the traditional “Niluvethu Bangaram” (gold offering) ritual. They were accorded a warm welcome at the main temple entrance by Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), and Adluri Laxman Kumar amidst traditional tribal drumming.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy described the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara as the largest festival for tribal communities, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the nation. Highlighting the collaborative approach between the Centre and the State, he detailed significant financial allocations aimed at transforming the region’s tourism and educational landscape.

Reddy announced that the Centre and State governments are jointly undertaking development works, including an allocation of ₹80 crore for the development of tourism circuits covering Mulugu, Laknavaram, Medaram, Tadvai, and the Bogatha waterfalls. Additionally, ₹140 crore has been earmarked for the development of the historic Ramappa Temple, and ₹3.70 crore has been released specifically for arrangements related to this year’s Jatara.

A key highlight of his address was the update on the Central Tribal University named after Sammakka–Saralamma. Kishan Reddy informed that the university is being established with an outlay of ₹890 crore, and construction works have already commenced. 

He assured that the project would be formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister in due course. He also extended his gratitude to the State Ministers and officials for their coordination in making elaborate arrangements for the devotees.

Addressing the media, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram termed the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara as the "Maha Kumbh of tribal communities." Visiting the shrine on the specific directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Oram recalled his previous visit nearly 20 years ago and expressed his pleasure at witnessing the grandeur of the festival again.

Oram highlighted the massive scale of Central initiatives designed for tribal upliftment. He noted that ₹1 lakh crore has been allocated under the Dharati Aaba Tribal Village Development Abhiyan and ₹24,000 crore is being utilized under the PM JANMAN scheme. Specifically for Telangana, he announced that 23 Ekalavya Model Residential Schools have been sanctioned to boost educational opportunities for tribal students.

Recalling history, Oram mentioned that a separate Ministry for Tribal Affairs was created during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with himself serving as the first Cabinet Minister. He reiterated that the Union Government honors the legacy of tribal leaders like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and is committed to extending full support for the development of the Medaram region, including the arrangement of special trains for pilgrims.