The Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that we have to give up the hubris of considering tribes backward and every tribe has a rich and living cultural tradition and we must respect them. It is not only a social courtesy to respect their cultural traditions, but it is also our Constitutional obligation, he added. He was delivering the Foundation Day Lecture ‘Constitution and Tribes’, on the occasion of 15th Foundation Day Celebrations of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
The Vice President said that as we are looking for ways of sustainable development, these tribal groups can teach us lessons in sustainable development.
Naidu said that every tribal community world over worships nature in its different forms. He further stated that their methods of worship might be different, but their belief in Nature remains one and firm. There can't be a better example of Unity in Diversity, he added.
T he Vice President cautioned that in the name of protecting their cultural identity, we must not isolate them from the national mainstream. Their youth should have a voice and an opportunity to express their aspirations and expectations and only then our commitment to Sabka Sath sabka Vikas will be fulfilled, he said. In this context, the Vice President also referred to several steps taken by the Government for the financial inclusion like JanDhan, MUDRA, and Stand up India.
The Vice President also suggested that the Governor's Reports on Tribal areas should be placed before the Parliament and the appropriate Parliamentary Committee should examine them.
