Context

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated AadiMahotsav, a mega national tribal festival, at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.

About

What is Aadi Mahotsav?

• Started in: 2007
• Organized by:Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED),Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Theme 2023: “A celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts , Culture, Cuisine, and Commerce”
• Objective:The annual ‘AadiMahotsav’ honours the spirit of tribal culture, crafts, gastronomy, trade, and traditional art.

Key-highlights of 2023 Edition:

Shree Anna 'Shree Anna' is the name given to millets. It means a food grain which has divine grace. According to agricultural experts, millets are called 'Sri Dhaanya' in Karnataka because they are not only tasty and rich in nutrition but also carry a lot of medicinal value.

• The programme present the rich and varied legacy of tribes from all around the nation.
• At the Mahotsav, almost 1000 tribal artisans took part.
• Along with the customary attractions like handicrafts, handloom, ceramics, jewellery, etc., the Mahotsavplaced a special emphasis on exhibiting Shree Anna grown by tribal people because 2023 is being observed as the International Year of Millets.

Tribals in India: India has the second-largest tribal population in the world. As per the Census 2011, the tribal population constitutes about 8.9% of the total population in India.

Why tribals are considered ‘vulnerable section’ in the society?

Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as:

• Primitive traits
• Distinctive culture
• Geographical isolation
• Shyness to contact with the community at large
• Backwardness
• Though their vulnerability is defined by several factors;
  • Dependency on hunting and gathering for food
  • Having pre-agriculture level of technology
  • Zero or negative growth of population
  • Extremely low level of literacy

How government is empowering the tribes?

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Ministry was set up in 1999 with the objective of providing a more focused approach to the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): EMRS have been set up to provide quality education to ST students (Class VI-XII) in remote areas through residential schooling facilities.
• PradhanMantriVanbandhuVikas Yojana: Under the PradhanMantriVanbandhuVikas Yojana, a venture capital fund has been set up to promote entrepreneurship/start-up projects by ST youth.
• PradhanMantri Jan JatiyaVikas Mission: Minimum Support Price (MSP) is ensured for Minor Forest Produce, and marketing support for tribal products is provided through the PradhanMantri Jan JatiyaVikas Mission.
• TRIFED: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India supports retail marketing for livelihood development among tribal communities of India. This includes the Van Dhan Yojana (VDY).
• PradhanMantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana: PMAAGYaims at providing basic infrastructure in villages with a significant tribal population.
• Health initiatives:Mission Indradhanush,NikshayMitra initiative. The government is also working for the management, control and eradication of Sickle Cell disease.
• Honouring tribals: 10 Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museumshave been sanctioned in States where tribals lived.