Naveen Patnaik Inspires Tribal Students at Zonal Sargiful-2023 Felicitation

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inspired tribal students to seize the myriad opportunities offered by mother language-based education, computer programs, and health check-ups initiated by the state government.

Addressing the audience at the state-level felicitation ceremony for Zonal Sargiful-2023 winners at Lokseva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister underscored the importance of cultural awareness and urged students to excel in both academics and their understanding of traditions.

“Achieving personal success in life is great, but when we accomplish something unique for our state and nation, it adds greater meaning and success to our lives,” said the Chief Minister, extending his best wishes to the participants. He highlighted that Sargiful-2023 provided a unique platform to showcase the talents of tribal students across Odisha.

Shri Jagannath Saraka, Minister of ST & SC Dev., M & BCW Department, and Law, Odisha, addressed the gathering, commending the innovative ways the two zonal-level Sargiful-2023 events held in Sundargarh and Gajapati explored the talents of students from across the state.

Shri Sudam Marandi, Minister of School and Mass Education, Revenue and Disaster Management, shared his journey as a student in a tribal school, emphasizing the positive impact of the initiatives by the chief minister. He highlighted the success brought about by educating tribal students in Anwesha schools through English language education.

Smt Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of ST & SC Development, M&BCW Department, underscored the talents of students from tribal communities during her welcome address. She revealed that Sargiful-2023, grouping Odisha’s 30 districts into two zones – Gajapati and Sundargarh, saw over 1,300 students participating in more than 18 workshops and 13 competitions.

The event included short videos showcasing the organization of Zonal Level Sargiful-2023 and the various activities of the ST & SC Development, M&BCW Department.

A highlight of the event was the release of the Students’ Magazine on Sargiful-2023 and a Coffee Table book by the Chief Minister, featuring beautiful paintings by the students of various tribal schools. The participating students also showcased their cultural diversity by presenting a memento in 62 tribal languages (including 13 PVTG groups) to the Chief Minister.

Following this, prizes and certificates were distributed to the winners of zonal-level competitions at Sargiful-2023.

Director of ST, ST & SC Development, M&BCW Department Shri Indramani Tripathy proposed the vote of thanks.

The Zonal Sargiful event in Sundargarh began on December 7, with over 600 students from 15 districts engaging in activities such as elocution, quiz, painting, sports competitions, and cultural programs reflecting their tribal heritage. Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey graced the festival, praising the students’ skills. The festival also featured workshops on sustainability, where students crafted items from waste materials.

A few days later, Zonal Sargiful 2023 took place in Gajapati, from December 14, with students from 15 districts participating. The festival included a science exhibition, math games, a magic workshop, and a cultural event featuring instrumental music, showcasing tribal talents and offering an enjoyable and educational experience for participating students.