CM participates in Tharu Samvad in Khatima
Garhwal Post Bureau
KHATIMA, 1 Aug: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday participated in the Tharu Janjati Samvad programme held in Khatima, where he listened to the concerns of the tribal community and honoured BSF Everest summiteer Mohan Singh Rana and ITBP Everest summiteer Teela Sen. He said that a stringent anti‑conversion law has been enforced in the State to prevent religious conversions and strict action is being taken against the offenders. He added that both the Centre and the State are jointly running campaigns against drug abuse, which destroys not only individuals but entire families, and called for a broad awareness drive involving society and administration.
The CM also emphasised that the government is consistently working to provide quality education and that the dialogue is not merely a formal exercise but a medium to strengthen trust and partnership in development between the Government and the Tharu community. He also reminded the gathering of his long‑standing association with the Tharu society and his deep connection with Khatima, stating that he had come to hear their problems, suggestions and expectations so that schemes could be implemented more effectively.
Dhami said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, unprecedented work has been undertaken for tribal empowerment for the first time since Independence, citing the example of President Droupadi Murmu belonging to the tribal society. He stressed that the double‑engine government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to holistic development of tribal communities by linking them with education, health, employment and basic facilities to make them self‑reliant. He pointed out that under the Atal Awas Yojana, income limits have been made practical and construction costs increased to benefit more families, with assistance of over Rs 3 crore already provided in Udham Singh Nagar. A large number of tribal families have also benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).
The CM shared that under the Pradhan Mantri Janman Awas Yojana, 824 houses were built in the first phase and 101 in the second phase in the district. He said that the Tribal Welfare Department has sanctioned crores of rupees for the development of Ashram schools, hostels and ITI institutions, with upgradation of Ashram schools up to Class 12 already in progress. Eklavya Model Residential Schools are also being established to provide quality education. In Khateema, Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for a girls’ hostel, while in Bazpur a school and hostel are being constructed at a cost of over Rs 16 crore. A 100‑bed boys’ hostel is being built in Gadarpur. At Tharu Government Inter College, over Rs 2 crore is being spent on beautification of the playground, modernisation of the auditorium and repair of the building.
Dhami claimed that the Government is committed to making tribal women self‑reliant through the National Rural Livelihood Mission by providing employment, training and opportunities, while Van Dhan Kendras are linking their products to markets to enhance income. He mentioned that tribal women have been given revolving funds of over Rs 1 crore and investment support of over Rs 8 crore to promote small enterprises. He expressed satisfaction that under the Chief Minister Border Area Development Programme, schemes worth over Rs 10 crore were successfully completed between 2020 and 2025, providing thousands of families with drinking water, electricity and gas connections. He announced that a Tharu Vikas Bhawan is being constructed in Sitarganj.
The CM added that an amount of over Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned under the Social Welfare Department for infrastructure facilities in tribal areas and financial assistance of up to Rs 50,000 is being provided for daughters’ marriages. Separate Tribal Welfare Officers have been appointed in Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Pithoragarh and Chamoli to accelerate development in tribal regions. He stressed that the state government does not merely announce schemes but ensures their implementation on the ground to bring real change.
Dhami recalled that after 2014 the Prime Minister initiated historic recognition of tribal pride by declaring the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda as Janjaatiya Gaurav Diwas, acquainting the nation with the courage, struggle and sacrifice of tribal society. He reiterated the double‑engine government’s resolve that every Tharu family should be linked with the mainstream of development, every youth become self‑reliant and every daughter educated and empowered. He assured that every problem, suggestion and expectation of the Tharu society is a priority for the government and pledged continued commitment to their all‑round development.
During the dialogue, representatives of the Tharu community expressed gratitude to the CM, acknowledging his constant association with their joys and sorrows and describing his efforts for preservation of Tharu culture and traditions as historic.
Among those present on the occasion included Block Pramukh Sarita Rana, President Tharu Rana Parishad Dan Singh Rana, MP representative Ravindra Rana, senior social worker Ramesh Rana, Gram Pradhan Sangh President Manjeet Singh Rana, Councillor Daulat Rana, Gram Pradhan Shobha Devi, District Magistrate Nitin Singh Bhadauria, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Ganpati and others.
