Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls of strengthening the tribal community

Hemant Soren said that collective participation and mutual cooperation are essential for the holistic development of the tribal society

Published - November 06, 2026 01:52 am IST - PATNA

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. File photo: CMO Jharkhand via PTI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday (November 5, 2026) called for further strengthening of the tribal community. He asserted that the tribal society holds specific social rights, which have also been granted recognition by the Indian Constitution.

Mr. Soren said this while addressing the concluding day of the two-day ‘Marang Buru Dhoromgad Mahasammelan’ at the Madhuban Police Station grounds in Pirtand, Giridih district, organised by Marang Buru Bachao Sangharsh Morcha. Marang Buru refers as supreme deity.

Sarna followers from different parts of India have gathered at the conference. called to protect tribal culture, traditional practices and religious heritage. The conference focused on Santhal religious tradition.

His wife, MLA Kalpana Soren, and representatives of the tribal community from various districts of Jharkhand, including Fagu Besra (Central President of Morcha) and representatives of the tribal community from Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal were also present.

Speaking in the Santhali language, the Mr. Soren pointed out that there are many regions in the country where no activity can be undertaken without the consent and permission of the tribal community.

Mr. Soren stressed the necessity of collective participation and mutual cooperation for the holistic development of the community, while assuring them of all possible support.

“The preservation of ‘Marang Buru Dhoromgad’ is essential, and that it is the collective responsibility of all of us to ensure its care,”Mr. Soren said,

Mr. Soren explained that the tribal society is the oldest in the country adding that while the roots of this society remain strong, its branches have diversified.

“Today, some members of the community identify as Hindu, while others follow the ‘Sarna’ tradition. People speak both tribal languages ​​and Hindi. Our ancestors have lived in the forests; the forests provide us with livelihoods and are held in the same regard as the divine,”Mr. Soren said.

A large population of Jharkhand follows Sarna religion. People of this society are worshippers of ancient traditions and nature and consider worshipping trees, mountains and protecting forests as their religion. Several times, Mr. Soren has said that concern of protecting the traditional religious existence of tribals based on nature is certainly a serious question.

In the past, he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well, seeking recognition of the Sarna religious code for tribals asserting that the population of tribals in the state has declined from 38% to 26% in the last eight decades.

Mr. Soren said that his father, ‘Dishom Guru’ Shibu Soren, and his mother, Rupi Soren, have passed away and informed that their funeral rites were performed in accordance with traditional customs and rituals. He urged the youth to understand their own traditions and customs, and to become familiar with the historical background of their community.

He also said that the world has advanced to such an extent that humans have reached the moon, and scientific research is flourishing. In contrast, the tribal community remains economically, intellectually, and educationally disadvantaged, Mr. Soren added.

He highlighted that his father, provided strength to the state and played a pivotal role in the creation of Jharkhand.

“More than 25 years after the state’s formation, the expected level of development has not been achieved. We must now prepare ourselves to move forward on the path of development,”Mr. Soren said.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that consumption of liquor is weakening the tribal community, as many individuals have fallen into its grip. He mentioned that the government has formed a strategy to address this issue with collective awareness campaign also, the ‘Phulo-Jhano Ashirwad Yojana’ is being implemented in Jharkhand to curb the production and sale of Hadiya (traditional rice beer) and illicit liquor.

Published - November 06, 2026 01:52 am IST

Patna / Jharkhand / Ranchi

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