Vishwa Adivasi Divas 2024: Every August 9, to mark World Tribal Day, tribal communities scattered in different parts of India come together to celebrate their indigenous culture, food, music, dance, and heritage.
The UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations established August 9 in 1982 as the World Tribal Day. Later in 1994, UN General Assembly selected agreement with UN Working Group on Indigenous Popilations inaugural meeting taking place in Geneva.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wrote on X, “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the tribal brothers and sisters, true servants of nature, who have been engaged in the conservation of water, forest and land for centuries, on World Tribal Day. All of you have been worshipping nature for centuries, keeping the civilization and culture intact and holding the flag of our golden history. All of you tribal brothers and sisters have an important role in the upliftment of the nation and society. Our government is continuously working for the conservation and promotion of the glorious primitive culture and the happy life of the tribals, their progress. Congratulations and best wishes again”.
Controversies On World Tribal Day
While the tribals in Mumbai said they are facing a difficult time holding a festival that celebrates their existence, Nandurbar, the tribal-dominated district in Maharashtra. National Tribal Day events were lined up day-long events planned by the Tribal Development Department, which will be attended by Tribal Development Minister Vijaykumar Gavit. Contrarily, members of the community living in Aarey forest say they have been denied permission to hold cultural events.
Vitthal Govind Lad, founder of Kashtakari Shetkari Sanghtana and Jaag Foundation that have been working for the rights of tribal community in Mumbai since 1983. Vanita Thakre, resident and tribal rights activist said, “Over 4,000 tribal people are gathering here at the Aarey forest from across Mumbai, and we have been celebrating it for years. On July 22, we submitted a letter seeking permission from the Aarey police station but there was no response. Two days ahead of the festival, the police called us, made us wait for two hours, misbehaved and insulted us. We showed them as proof police permits from previous years but they refused to accept it and verbally told us that we will not be able to celebrate it. We have decided that we will celebrate our festival peacefully with or without police permission.”
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