"We Cannot Let the Tribal Identity Vanish"

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in conversation with Chinki Sinha. The chief minister organised a two-day Tribal (indigenous) Festival in Ranchi recently to celebrate indigenous identity and also to show Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's assertion of tribal rights

What does tribal identity mean to you as the ‘son of this soil (Jharkhand)’?

The search for the tribal identity is still going on. The origin and progress of the state have been an important part of this tribal identity. It has been a long struggle for this identity—an identity of their existence. Jharkhand was separated from Bihar many years ago. Even when the tribals were a part of undivided Bihar, they never got the recognition they deserved. This indigenous festival defines them. Since the time our government has come to power, we have been celebrating this festival. As compared to last year, this year’s event has been grand. We cannot let a population of 13 crore tribals—as compared to the total population of 125 crore—vanish. Till the time we are in power, we will never let this happen.

You passed the Sarna Code Bill in 2019 and it has been lying with the Union government. What is your take on this Bill and how do you think this will help in giving an identity to the Sarna people, in the form of a religion code and a separate column in the 2021 census? Also, with regard to the Manipur incident, you have written a letter to the President demanding punitive measures.