Gandhinagar, Nov 14 (NationPress) The Narmada district is set to host the national-level festivities for Tribal Pride Day on November 15, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of the esteemed tribal leader Birsa Munda, affectionately known as Dharti Aaba.

During the event at Dediapada, the Prime Minister will officially launch and lay the groundwork for development initiatives exceeding Rs 9,700 crore, collaboratively financed by the Centre and the Gujarat government.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will also be present at the ceremony.

Before the public gathering, PM Modi will visit the renowned Dev Mogra Dham, a spiritual site held in high esteem by tribal communities throughout Satpuda.

He will offer his prayers to the deity prior to heading to the venue, where tribal performers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra will greet him with traditional dances.

A significant portion of the announcements will include Rs 7,667 crore in projects from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, alongside Rs 2,112 crore in initiatives from the state government.

At Ekta Nagar, there will be a special theatrical performance highlighting the life and contributions of Birsa Munda, with the entire program to be live-streamed across 23 tribal talukas in Gujarat.

PM Modi is also scheduled to address the audience. The state government is poised to unveil a diverse array of development projects across essential sectors, such as major road enhancements including the widening and fortification of Movi–Dediapada, Avdha–Tutrakhad, and Surkhai–Anaval–Bhinar routes, four-laning of Bardoli–Mahuva and Sindharot–Sherkhi–Koyli roads, a new overbridge on the Vadodara–Dabhoi stretch, and the reconstruction of a vital bridge near Eru Char Rasta.

In urban development, initiatives will include a multi-activity sports complex in the Khanpur region of Vadodara, underground drainage for the Koyali TP scheme, a new water supply project in Khambhat, and a flyover at Surat's Maharana Pratap Junction.

The government will also set up a 100-bed sub-district hospital in Halol and construct a new dam at Ajwa Lake near Waghodia.

Additional key projects ready for inauguration encompass improved road infrastructure in Dang and Tapi, water supply enhancements in Chhota Udepur, the delivery of 61,125 rural homes under PMAY-Gramin, a modern Town Hall in Navsari, and a Smart Green Taluka Library in Narmada.

On a national scale, PM Modi will initiate the foundation for 190 Ashram Schools, 50 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, 14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres, and 748 km of road connectivity, including six bridges — projects aggregating to Rs 3,777 crore.

Completed projects ready for inauguration consist of 1 lakh pucca houses under PM-Janman and DAJGUA, 10,000 new tap-water connections, 228 multipurpose centres, 42 EMRS schools, a Centre of Competence at Assam Medical College (Dibrugarh), and an administrative-cum-training facility for the Tribal Research Institute in Imphal.

Gujarat has been commemorating Tribal Pride Year 2025 with extensive state-wide initiatives, including a significant Tribal Pride Rath Yatra led by CM Bhupendra Patel.

The yatra, traversing through 14 tribal districts on two routes — from Umargam and Ambaji to Ekta Nagar — concluded on November 13, having engaged over 7 lakh individuals through health camps, Seva Setu programs, cleanliness drives, and competitions in educational institutions.

Earlier this month, a national symposium celebrating Birsa Munda's legacy was held at Ekta Nagar, where the Chief Minister unveiled a dedicated pavilion showcasing his influence, along with stalls promoting tribal handicrafts and cuisine.

Reflecting on Birsa Munda's lasting impact, PM Modi stated, “Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda is more than an individual — he embodies a tradition. He dedicated his life to safeguarding his culture and land. When I observe the contributions of tribal communities in India's growth, I see his spirit in their endeavors. Just as Mahatma Gandhi became the voice against apartheid in South Africa, Birsa Munda had already written a powerful narrative against colonial oppression here.”