“If any community or group is left out of the mainstream of the country’s development, we cannot call it inclusive development. Therefore, special attention will have to be given to the development of more backward people in tribal communities”, President Droupadi Murmu said in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Thursday while inaugurating a national seminar on ‘Tribes of Keonjhar: People, Culture and Heritage’.

The President also inaugurated an exhibition of tribal costumes, jewelry and food items on the occasion.

The Government of India has launched the PM-JANMAN to empower particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). This initiative will provide livelihood, skill development, education, health, housing, tap water, sanitation and nutrition.

Stating that various schemes are also being implemented to empower all tribal people, President Murmu said “She was happy to note that efforts are being made to preserve and promote tribal arts, cultures and crafts and to protect tribal self-respect”.

She expressed confidence that the researchers participating in the discussion will reach concrete conclusions by discussing various aspects of the preservation of tribal culture.

The President said that tribal people give utmost importance to equality and democratic values. Not ‘I’, ‘We’ is the basic mantra of the tribal society. There is no discrimination between men and women in tribal societies. This approach is the basis of women empowerment. If we all adopt these values then the process of women empowerment can be accelerated.

Addressing the teachers, the President said that they should pay attention to research along with teaching. She urged them to go to the tribal villages and understand the condition of the villagers. She said that there is a wealth of traditional knowledge in tribal societies. Experienced tribal brothers and sisters know the art of identifying trees, plants and herbs, using them and identifying their special medicinal properties. She said that they should do research on those topics and inspire interested students to do research. She urged them to pay attention to the application of traditional knowledge for the benefit of human society and make an effort to save them from extinction.

Stating that students have immense possibilities and potential, President Murmu said “they can earn a livelihood and become self-reliant through their education and skill.

She also urged them to connect with new technologies through education but do not forget their roots.