Mamata Banerjee's outreach on freedom fighter Birsa Munda's birth anniversary

Leaders of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP stepped up their tribal outreach efforts on Tuesday with close interactions with the tribals in West Bengal during events to mark the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

In Belpahari in Jhargram, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee danced with the tribals to the beats of 'dhamsa madol'. She also played the musical instrument, visited the tribal villages and met the women there. The leaders interacted with the tribals in the Junglemahal region of Jhargram, Bankura and West Midnapore districts of West Bengal, ahead of panchayat polls.

Banerjee offered "dhamsa" to some 1,000 tribals on Tuesday, the first day of her two-day tour of Jangalmahal, after reaching tribal-dominated (once Maoist-affected) Belpahari in Jhargram district. The chief minister inaugurated six statues of Birsa Munda--including in Jhargram, Madarihat town in Alipurduar, Kaksha town in Burdwan, and Keshiari town in West Midnapore--distributed pension benefits, land right documents or "pattas", 'dhamsa madol' and caste certificates to the tribals and inaugurated several social welfare schemes.


Banerjee said, "In the last 11 years, 18 lakh tribal people have received caste certificates and three lakh people have received pension under 'Jai Johar' scheme while more than 50,000 tribals have received land rights 'patta' and right to collect Kendu leaves."Talking about the state's work for the tribals, Banerjee said, "Our government has recognised Santhali and Kurukh as state languages. We have started the Santhali academy and schools in the primary and secondary section, where the language of education is Santhali."

Calling Birsa Munda an "iconic leader", Banerjee said, "We celebrate fairs on Hul Diwas, Adivasi Diwas, and Adivasi mela."

Banerjee visited a tribal village and heard from the women there about the scarcity of water and how they have to walk long distances for it. She promised to provide tap water facility to the village by 2024.

At Jhargram, the chief minister stopped at a local food stall and assisted its owner in preparing food and then served "telebhaja" (fries and chops) to the locals.