By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The much-awaited Sargiful Utsav 2024 has begun. The three-day festival was inaugurated by Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, Hon’ble Minister, PR&DW, Rural Development. The Hon’ble Minister Shri Naik addressed the ST/SC students attending the state-level festival organized by the ST&SC Developmet, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Depratment. On this occasion Dr. Poma Tudu, Director,ST, Shri Laxman Ku Mallick, Director, SC, Smt. Banita Dash, FA cum Additional Secretary, Shri Narayan Dhal, Additional Secretary to Govt. were also present.
By addressing the students Hon’ble Minister Shri Naik said, “Tribals are nature worshippers. Over time, the tribal community used Sargiful or Sal Flower as food and later started worshipping it as a Jaahira, as Sargiful is a source of inspiration.”
Addressing the students, he also said that the Sargiful festival was started with the aim of enhancing the creativity of the youth. Our children have the skills and potential to represent the state, the main objective of organizing the festival is to showcase their inherent talent, qualities and creativity.
Mili Tudu from Jagatsinghpur, Suprabha Naik, Mahesh Mahar, Nandini Naik, Chumki Naik, Lovely Naik from Kalahandi, Krishna Tudu from Khordha, Suneli Pradhan from Sambalpur, Rashmita Bhatra from Nabarangpur, and Kabita Gamang from Gajapati were honoured by Hon’ble Minister with Rs 5000 cash prize, certificates and books.
Along with this, Hon’ble Minister Shri Naik also inaugurated the state-level science exhibition. 80 students with 40 guide teachers have participated in 40 stalls. Various workshops will be organized for three days in 5 domes prepared on the theme of Ocean ecosystem conservation, eco-friendly environment, artificial intelligence, Indian space research, smart classrooms.
