West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee dances at World Tribal Day event. Watch

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, attended an event in Jhargram, West Bengal, on the occasion of World Tribal Day. The event held in the district’s Junglemahal area saw the Bengal CM show her percussion skills – playing a Dhamsa (a traditional percussion instrument) – and joined the locals in a tribal dance.

Watch the video below:

At the event, Mamata said that her government, through its schemes, seeks to support people across all strata of society.

“Beneficiaries of the ‘Lakhi Bhandar’ scheme, which aims to provide basic income support to the female heads of the family, would start receiving the dole from September 1. Also, the ‘Duare ration’ (ration at doorsteps) scheme would be initiated soon, maybe in a month or two,” she said.

She further added that the state doesn’t differentiate on the lines of caste, creed or religion.

“The rights of the tribals have to be protected. We have taken all steps for the development of the tribal communities of our state. Nearly 95% of the tribal population in Jhargram has received benefits from state government schemes.

“We have also created a separate department for the welfare of tribals and to ensure their land rights are protected. Tribal land cannot be transferred in Bengal. A similar law to protect the land rights of tribals across the country should be passed by the Centre,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress chief also thanked the people of Jhargram for “their blessings” during the last assembly polls.

“I want to thank all of you for your blessings. If we have committed any mistake, we will rectify it,” she said.

The BJP had made deep inroads in the Junglemahal area during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by bagging five of the six Lok Sabha seats spread over the four districts of West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia and Bankura.