President Murmu walks the extra mile for the vulnerable tribal communities

Later, Murmu received traditional gifts crafted by tribal artisans. The PVTGs in West Bengal include Birhors (nomadic hunter-gatherers), Lodha Muslims (who reside around West Midnapore and Jhargram) and the isolated Totos, who live near the West Bengal-Bhutan border.

PVTGs, earlier known as primitive tribal groups, are a sub-classification of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) or a section of STs who are considered more vulnerable than regular STs. The PVTG list was created by the government with the aim to improve on priority the living standards of endangered tribal groups. According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 75 PVTGs are spread across 15 states and Union Territories. Officials said these communities have particularly low levels of education and healthcare awareness.

At times, the President also makes members of the tribal community aware of the benefits of healthcare and education — and the importance of sending their children to school.

During her visit to Tripura in October 2022, she met tribal women working at a tea estate. “Delighted to interact with the women tea workers of Durgabari Tea Estate in Agartala. They represent the state’s social diversity and seem satisfied with welfare initiatives for them. I urged them to focus on the education of their children, particularly girls,” Rashtrapati Bhavan’s official handle tweeted after the meeting.

Murmu has also met PVTGs during her visits to Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Telangana, according to official releases issued from the President’s Office following these meetings. In fact, she has even invited them “home”.

Last weekend, hundreds of women working with self-help groups across the country had a special interaction with the President, after an exclusive, guided tour of Amrit Udyan. A majority of these women came from tribal backgrounds, including PVTGs, from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Sikkim and Odisha, the President’s home state.

Murmu stopped by to meet each group, interacted with them, got pictures clicked and even accepted gifts at times, despite the protocol. When women from the Baiga community, a special backward tribe in Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district, presented her a biran mala (a garland made using bamboo), the President boosted their morale by saying, “Chhattisgarhiya sable badiya (people from Chhattisgarh are the best).”

Women belonging to a tribe from Jharkhand, whom the President asked if their stay in Delhi was comfortable, said they felt privileged and particularly enthused over the turn of events. The women, who are involved in organic farming practices, are working for the revival of tribal food grains. Murmu also took the time to talk to women from Maharashtra’s Bhil community and Chhattisgarh’s Pahari Korwas community.

Thousands of kilometres from her home in Mayurbhanj district, a Santhal woman who got a chance to interact with Murmu remarked, “It means a lot to us that someone from among us has reached this place (the Rashtrapati Bhavan).”

Murmu’s first address to the nation after her appointment as President sums it all up, “Reaching this office isn’t my personal achievement but that of all poor people. My election is proof… that in India the poor can dream and fulfil their dreams.”

Thanks to the President, the tribal community is making its presence felt in the highest echelons of the country — literally and metaphorically.