Saying that diversity was at the core of Indian values, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said that he was fully confident of increased representation of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in all walks of life, including in Parliament, in the coming years.
Mr. Birla was on Monday addressing members of PVTGs from all over the country in Parliament House’s Central Hall in an event organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracy (PRIDE). Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda and Minister of State (Tribal Affairs) Renuka Singh Saruta also attended the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Birla said that even though there were many struggles ahead for PVTG communities, “with the wisdom of several centuries behind them”, they will be ready to face any challenge and march “shoulder to shoulder with the best of India”. A statement from the LS Secretariat said, “He (Mr. Birla) expressed his full confidence that India would soon see more representation from this group not only in all walks of life but in Parliament as well.”
The Lok Sabha Speaker added, “There is a need to preserve our heritage but at the same time there is a requirement to create new dimensions of development. In this context, participation of tribal communities should be streamlined in various institutions, governance and bodies of the country.” “With increased participation, the tribal society can also ensure their contribution in strengthening and strengthening these institutions,” he said.
He interacted with various tribal groups and PVTG communities from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Assam, Telangana, Manipur, Jharkhand and other States.
The Speaker also praised the values of tribal communities, which is embodied in their lifestyle. “The way of life of the tribal groups, especially of the PVTGs, has always been in harmony with nature, and the modern world has much to learn from them,” he said, further praising the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission announced in this year’s Budget and the five-year allocation of ₹15,000 crore for it.
Mr. Birla lauded the initiative to invite one of the most marginalised sections of the country to the Parliament House, before delving into the importance of the Central Hall, where the interaction took place.
“Central Hall was witness to India’s Independence and it was at this very place where the framers of the Constitution guaranteed equality, justice and freedom to all Indians,” Mr. Birla added, hailing the Constituent Assembly for granting special protections to tribespeople of the country, who had faced historical discrimination.
