Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls for strengthening tribal community
The Chief Minister addressed the concluding day of a two-day conference in Giridih district focused on Santhal religious traditions.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called for the further strengthening of the tribal community on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Speaking at the concluding day of the two-day ‘Marang Buru Dhoromgad Mahasammelan’ in Pirtand, Giridih district, Soren said the tribal society holds specific social rights recognised by the Indian Constitution, according to The Hindu.
The conference, organised by the Marang Buru Bachao Sangharsh Morcha, focused on Santhal religious tradition and brought together Sarna followers from various parts of India. Attendees included MLA Kalpana Soren, Morcha Central President Fagu Besra, and tribal representatives from Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Soren, speaking in the Santhali language, stated that the preservation of ‘Marang Buru Dhoromgad’ is a collective responsibility. He noted that while the roots of the tribal society remain strong, its branches have diversified, with some members identifying as Hindu and others following the Sarna tradition.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the tribal community remains economically, intellectually, and educationally disadvantaged despite global scientific advancements. He also noted that the tribal population in the state has declined from 38 per cent to 26 per cent over the last eight decades.
Addressing social issues, Soren said liquor consumption is weakening the community. He mentioned that the government has formed a strategy to address this through collective awareness campaigns and the ‘Phulo-Jhano Ashirwad Yojana’ to curb the sale of illicit liquor and Hadiya, a traditional rice beer.