Juang Youth Receives Prestigious Invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan in Recognition of His Inspiring Journey and Remarkable Achievements

Keonjhar, 3Aug 5 [UDN}:: Mayadhar Juang, a young man from the Juang tribal community of Gonashika area under Banspal Block in Keonjhar district, has received an invitation from Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has been invited to attend the Independence Day celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 15.
Mayadhar has been working dedicatedly for the development of education among the Juang community. The invitation extended to him by Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a topic of discussion, as his efforts towards improving education among the tribal people have been recognised at the national level.
On February 29, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu had visited Keonjhar district. It was the first time that an Indian President visited the remote Gonashika region of Keonjhar and interacted directly with members of the Juang tribal community. During her interaction, the President had asked whether government welfare schemes were reaching the tribal people properly.
During that meeting, Mayadhar Juang from Gonashika highlighted the problems faced by the tribal community and shared his views on the development of the region. He informed the President that earlier there were no schools in the area. After schools were established, Juang children started showing greater interest in education.
Mayadhar had studied up to Class 10 and later left his studies to work with the Juang Development Agency. He told the President about his efforts to ensure that Juang children receive higher education and become self-reliant. The President had appreciated Mayadhar’s dedication and work.
It is now reported that after nearly two years, President Murmu remembered Mayadhar and invited him as a special guest to the Independence Day programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
According to information, one of the main objectives of the President’s visit to the Juang community was to understand the challenges faced by one of the most backward tribal groups. She had stated that although the Central Government provides significant funds for tribal development, it was necessary to examine whether the benefits were actually reaching the people.
There are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the country that remain behind in development, and Odisha has a significant share of such communities. Around 15 tribal groups in Odisha are still far away from development opportunities. Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme, the Central Government has planned to bring these communities into the mainstream within three years.
Similarly, through skill development programmes, tribal people are being provided training according to their abilities so that they can become economically independent. These initiatives are expected to create employment opportunities for tribal communities. Loan facilities ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹10 crore are also available under various schemes.
The President had also emphasised that government funds meant for tribal development should be properly utilised. She stated that the Central Government has provided around ₹24,000 crore for the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and encouraged tribal communities to take advantage of government schemes.
She said that the government alone cannot solve every problem and that education is the key to development. If tribal communities become educated, it will lead to the progress of society, the nation, and families. She also stressed that education would help tribal people live with dignity and protect themselves from exploitation.
The President observed that tribal communities are generally simple-hearted and often become victims of exploitation due to lack of awareness. She said that the government is giving special importance to tribal education because education plays a vital role in building a better future.
She further stated that tribal people do not demand much, but they deserve opportunities to live a life of dignity, respect, and self-reliance.