Education as the Key to Tribal Empowerment: Mohan Bhagwat

Mumbai, May 3: Mohan Bhagwat, the Chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, emphasized education as the most powerful tool for social and economic transformation on Saturday. He highlighted the need to bring tribal communities into the mainstream while preserving their unique cultural heritage.

Addressing a gathering of over 1,800 tribal teachers at the Karmayogi Single Teacher Fair held at the Gateway of India, Bhagwat praised the single-teacher school model and referred to these educators as true Karmayogis and selfless workers. He stated that education is not merely about literacy; it is about awakening the soul. The teachers working in remote areas like Gadchiroli and Melghat are not only providing education but also laying the foundation for a stronger India.

Bhagwat noted that the main message of the fair is to integrate tribal communities into national development while preserving their unique arts, culture, and traditions. Empowering the most marginalized citizens is essential for a nation’s upliftment.

He commended the work done by the late Lakshmanrao Manakar Smriti Sanstha, stating it exemplifies how collective social will can bridge the gap between urban development and rural neglect.

Emphasizing the importance of cultural values and traditions, Bhagwat urged teachers to ensure that modern education does not come at the cost of tribal traditions.

He outlined that the primary objective of this initiative is to promote local entrepreneurship through women’s empowerment, health awareness, skill development, and dairy training, while also encouraging tribal arts, music, and forest-based livelihoods.

Bhagwat appealed to the urban population to support these grassroots movements, reminding the audience that India’s resurgence is incomplete without the progress of its tribal brothers and sisters.

The event also served as a platform to announce the extensive expansion of the single-teacher school network, which currently operates around 1,300 schools in the Vidarbha region, serving 30,000 students.

The new roadmap aims to expand to 5,000 schools across Maharashtra, deploy 6,000 teachers in remote forest and tribal areas, and reach over 100,000 tribal students with a focus on holistic development.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike.