Tribal Youth Must Mentally Prepare For Change: Prez Murmu

Addressing the gathering, Murmu urged tribal youth to prepare themselves to bring about social, economic and educational transformation by making full use of the opportunities created through government initiatives.

She said graduating students should contribute to the country's progress by ensuring inclusive development in which no one is left behind.

“The government is making every effort to bring tribal and Adivasi communities forward. But we must also ask ourselves what our responsibility is and how we can make the best use of this support. We should be mentally prepared not just to improve our own lives, but to transform society, education, culture, traditions and the economy," she said.

“We have to make the government's efforts a reality,” the President added.

The President noted the institution’s unique responsibilities, highlighting its role in fostering self-confidence, leadership, and policymaking capabilities among tribal communities. Universities established with the aim of social justice must also work at the grassroots level, focusing on education, health, skill development, livelihoods, and forest rights, she said.

The President expressed her confidence that the university would contribute meaningfully to the holistic development of youth from marginalised and tribal communities while also advancing the region's overall progress. She urged universities, particularly tribal universities, to adopt innovative systems that enhance livelihoods through productive work in forest produce, handicrafts, millets, medicinal plants, eco-tourism, and local entrepreneurship.

Speaking about the significance of the convocation, she saw it as both a celebration and a moment of resolution for students. She advised them to embrace emerging opportunities in skill development, to go beyond textbook learning, and to draw lessons from their surrounding ecosystem.

She stressed the importance of remaining connected to community, culture, and traditions while striving to improve society and the nation.

President Murmu underlined the need to balance heritage and modern science, citing the university’s ‘Science and Technology Hub’ as an initiative to empower tribal communities in North Andhra Pradesh.

She noted that the institution has been working on academic and grassroots projects in tribal welfare, public health, climate change, food and nutrition security, and energy conservation. These efforts, she said, would be vital in building an equitable and developed India.

Looking ahead, she reiterated the national goal of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 and expressed confidence that the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh would play a significant role in this mission.

By integrating tribal communities with modern education and focusing on environmental conservation, she said, the university would enable local youth to contribute meaningfully to the country’s equitable development.