I f the Congres had worked with dedication for tribals, we wouldn’t have to work so hard for their welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Rajya Sabha. “Instead of playing with the sentiments of the tribals, had they (Congress) done some work, we would not have had to work so hard,” he said. PM Modi said that the contribution of tribals in India’s freedom struggle is written in golden letters. “But for decades our tribals remained deprived of development and the bridge of faith could never be built,” he said attacking the Congress.
Prime Minister pointed out that it was under the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that a separate ministry was formed for the tribals. “Before 2014, 14 lakh land pattas were given to tribal families, while we have given more than 7 lakh pattas in the last few years. We have sanctioned 500 new Eklavya schools for tribal children. More than three crore tribals have directly benefited from the Aspirational Districts Programme of the government,” he said.