CANACONA
Stating that the gawda, kunbi and velip are the sons-of-the-soil (Bhumiputras) who have protected the culture and traditions of the State, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said his sustained struggle for 10 years had enabled the ST community get due recognition in 2003.
Tawadkar was speaking at the inaugural function of the 7-day 14th Tribal Youth Exchange Programme organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra in association with Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, CRPF at the Auditorium at Adarshgram, Amone, Poinguinim in Canacona.
“I had led the struggle for 10 long years and had even gone to jail. The Congress government in Goa also collapsed due to the agitation for the tribal struggle,” said Tawadkar.
Stating that there are 220 participants from 8 states in the Tribal Youth Exchange programme, Tawadkar said he also got the honour of being the first minister of Tribal Welfare in Goa and through that department, he launched 25 different schemes for the Tribals in Goa.
Speaking on the occasion, State Director of NYKS Goa & Maharashtra Prakash Manure said the aim of the seven-day camp is to make the young women of different parts of the country aware of the culture of different states of the country, to bring tribal into the flow of development, to create dialogue between tribal and other youths, to create brotherhood, to create awareness about patriotism and nationalism.
Participants at the Tribal Youth Exchange Programme have come from various places like Odisha, Kangmal, Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam, Telangana, Bhadradi, Kothegudam, Jharkhand, Sinhbhuh, Khuti, Loh, Bihar, Lakhi Surai, Chhattisgarh, Kanker, Narayanam and Sukma.
“The participants will also visit the Goa Assembly Complex. Our folk art, folk culture will be displayed to them,” informed Nehru Yuva Kendra Deputy Director Kalidas Ghatwal.
Gunaji Mandrekar, a recipient of various awards, was felicitated by Tawadkar on the occasion.
Participants from Odisha and Jharkhand performed folk art dances of their districts and received appreciation from the audience.
Canacona Dy Collector Ramesh Gaonkar, CRPF Commander Indrayani Chavan, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar were among those present at the event.
