Tribal folk song and dance event marks Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas 2023

November 22, 2023 17 Views No Comment

We must never lose our rich culture- Tovihoto

Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 22

Nagaland’s Tribal Affairs & Election department Advisor H. Tovihoto Ayemi today stressed on the need to preserve the rich culture and tradition of the Nagas.

Gracing “Tribal Folk Song and Dance” event as part of Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas 2023 celebration here at The Garden, Ayemi said “Our cultural heritage is the legacy of the ways of living from the past and our identity. We must celebrate cultural energy to remind us of our rich heritage, bringing back remembrances of our ancestors’ culture, heritage and psyche.”

But unfortunately, he said, our society is deviating away for our age-old heritage, instead of preserving and taking pride in it, “we are gradually losing our identity.”

“This is an occasion for us to come together, celebrating and to showcase our rich and diverse cultural to the world,” he said adding that such occasion contributes to the promotion of culture.

“As I could see, the gathering of all Naga tribes in an occasion like this is testimony that Naga people are one, we as Nagas, each one of us must keep alive this spirit of unity,” Ayemi said.

“No matter what, we must never lose our rich culture and our identity that makes us who we are. It is our collective responsibility to give shape to the future of coming generations by passing on the grand legacy of our heritage to younger generations,” the advisor said.

‘India has second-largest tribal population’
Ayemi said the nationwide weeklong celebration of Jan Jatiya Gaurav Divas, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, is dedicated to honouring the tribal people of the country.

He said that India has the second-largest tribal population in the world.

As per 2011 Census, the tribal population, which constitutes about 8.9% or about 10.4 crores of India’s total population, has contributed a lot in making the country a culturally vibrant nation.

“The rich cultural heritage of the Naga tribes also contributes to the vast diversity of India,” he said.

He said that agriculture has been a predominant contributor to the Indian economy and it was the tribal people who played an important role in the development of various forms of agricultural practices in the country.

“However, for many years, the immense contribution of the tribals to the country at all fronts somehow remained unaware and untold of in the country’s history despite the fact that Constitution provides special provisions for tribal communities, recognizing their unique socio-cultural characteristics and the need for their protection,” he said.

Ayemi also claimed that it was the BJP party that paved the path of bringing the tribal communities into the mainstream. For this, he said thanked BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for declaring to recognize the importance of tribals and their role in nation-building, to honour the cultures, legacies and ways of life of the tribals.

MoTA for integrated socio-economic development of tribals
Ayemi said that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), in line with the vision of the government is focused to its enduring commitment for integrated socio-economic development of the tribals.

The ministry has constituted the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) to promote art and craft and other produce of tribal people and help the people to market their products through online retailing platform called Tribes India and through other related outlets.

MoTA is also promoting education among tribal communities with the establishment of Ekiavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), provision of scholarships, and teacher training programs throughout the country.

The ministry disbursed scholarships to 26.37 lakh tribal students through DBT from 1st April 2022 to 31st Dec 2022, he said.

In addition, Government has approved a total outlay of Rs 28,920 Cr for setting up of 452 new Ekiavya Model Residential schools, upgradation of existing 211 schools and establishment of 15 Centres of Excellence for Sports for the year 2021-22 to 2025-26, he said.

Earlier, Angelina Tejen, Secretary, Tribal Affairs department Nagaland delivered welcome address while vote of thanks was proposed by I Sino Phom, Director, Tribal Affairs, Nagaland. 17 tribes performed at the cultural programme.

In state level Tug of War competition, Chakhesang, Kachari and Rengma stood 1st, 2nd and 3rd position respectively. In tribal cuisine competition, Ao bagged 1st position while Tikhir and Rengma stood 2nd and 3rd position respectively.