Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said tribal communities had immense potential to achieve remarkable heights when given the right opportunities.
Addressing the World Tribal Day programme at Ambedkar Kala Vedika here, the CM said tribal communities lived in harmony with nature while preserving their rich cultural heritage and traditions.
He cited Droupadi Murmu's journey from an ordinary tribal woman to a minister and governor in Odisha and eventually the President of India as an example of what determination and opportunity can achieve.
Naidu said determination builds self-confidence and helps people scale greater heights, citing former President A P J Abdul Kalam, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as examples of leaders who rose from humble backgrounds.
He called upon people to recognise their role in bringing about change and resolve to contribute to the development of the country.
He urged people to adopt the spirit of “I, my country, my state, my village and my family” and, ahead of Independence Day, focus on what they could contribute to society and the nation.
The CM said serving the country did not necessarily mean fighting a war at the border. A tribal farmer who improved agricultural production or a woman earning a livelihood through self-employment was also contributing to the nation, he said.
"Whether a student, teacher, employee, businessman or labourer, everyone can contribute to the nation by working with dedication and to the best of their ability," he said.
Naidu said people could serve society in different ways, whether by protecting nature, safeguarding the environment or conserving water.
He said just as the state and the country had development goals, every individual should have a vision for their future.
PM Modi had set out the Viksit Bharat vision, while he had outlined the 2047 Swarna (Golden) Andhra vision for the state, Naidu said.
The CM urged people to reflect on how they could contribute to the nation and draw inspiration from the national flag while setting their goals.
Naidu said personal success was also an important part of nation-building and that every working individual contributed to society.
He described service to society as the highest form of patriotism, saying the progress of every individual ultimately contributed to the progress of the country.
