Date: 03-12-2025
Place: Amaravati
Udbhav-2025, the 6th National EMRS Kala Utsav Festival, was Inaugurated Grandly at KL University, Amaravati.
The much-awaited Udbhav-2025, the 6th National Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) Kala Utsav, was formally inaugurated today at KL Deemed-to-be University, Amaravati, by Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram in the presence of distinguished dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jual Oram emphasized that tribal students must excel not only in academics but also preserve and learn their rich culture and traditions. He expressed confidence that EMRS students will excel in every field and announced that EMRS institutions will be developed along the lines of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Sainik Schools. The Union Minister emphasized the importance of proficiency in Hindi, English, and regional languages, alongside mother-tongue education. Recalling the renaming of the Ministry during the Vajpayee era, he expressed happiness at inaugurating tribal cultural festivals for the past five years as Union Minister. He appreciated the efforts of the Andhra Pradesh Government, Tribal Welfare Minister Smt. Gummidi Sandhya Rani and Chief Secretary (Tribal Welfare) Shri M. Mallikarjuna Naik for organizing the event flawlessly.
Smt. Gummidi Sandhya Rani, Hon’ble Minister for Tribal Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh, described Udbhav-2025 as “not merely a celebration but a platform for great transformation”. She said the primary objective is to bring out the hidden talents and creativity of young children and instill confidence in them. The festival provides an opportunity to learn new cultures and traditions. She informed that 1,647 students from 405 EMRS institutions across the country, including 110 students from Andhra Pradesh, are participating, making it the largest such gathering hosted by any state. The Minister praised Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu’s unwavering commitment to tribal development and requested the Union Minister to sanction additional EMRS schools, increase funding for education and hostel facilities, and give priority to road connectivity in remote tribal areas.
Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastav, Commissioner, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), delighted the audience by greeting and delivering part of his speech in Telugu. He stated that cultural festivals are conducted every year under NESTS, and this edition, hosted by Andhra Pradesh, will resonate even more widely. He commended the State Government and specially appreciated Smt. M. Gautami, IAS, for the excellent arrangements.
Shri M. Mallikarjuna Naik, Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare Department, expressed pride that Andhra Pradesh, home to 28 lakh tribal population, is hosting Udbhav-2025. He said such events nurture India’s diversity and showcase the unique lifestyles and cultures of tribal communities from different states. He informed that out of 740 EMRS institutions nationwide, the Centre is constructing buildings for 440 schools. Elaborate arrangements, including 20 special teams, accommodation, food, medical clinics, and ambulances, have been made for the three-day event.
The inaugural session began with the lighting of the lamp by Shri Jual Oram and Smt. Sandhya Rani, followed by a prayer song and a captivating traditional Thinsa music and dance performance by students of Araku Valley EMRS. The Union Minister was accorded a traditional tribal welcome dance by EMRS students. He visited cultural stalls showcasing tribal artefacts, tried his hand at archery, and inspected stalls displaying internationally renowned Araku coffee and tribal honey.
Smt. Sandhya Rani felicitated Shri Jual Oram with a memento of Lord Venkateswara, regarded as the living deity of Kaliyuga. Other dignitaries, including Smt. Rayapati Shailaja, Chairperson, Women’s Commission; Shri Pilli Manikya Rao, Chairman, LIDCAP; Shri Shaik Hassan Basha, Chairman, Waqf Board; and Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastav, Commissioner, NESTS, were also honoured with mementos.
The three-day festival features competitions in multiple categories across two theatres, three seminar halls, ten classrooms, an open-air theatre, and a large seminar hall at KL University. Group events, storytelling, and creative writing competitions are also part of the schedule.
Prominent personalities who graced the occasion include Shri Pilli Manikya Rao, Shri Rayapati Shailaja, Shri Shaik Hassan Basha, Shri Daru Nayak (President, TDP ST Cell), Shri M. Mallikarjuna Naik, Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastav, Smt. Sada Bhargavi (Director, Tribal Welfare), Smt. M. Gautami, IAS (Secretary, Gurukulam), Shri Bipin Chandra Ratoori (Joint Commissioner, NESTS), Prof. G.P.S. Varma (Dean, KL Deemed-to-be University), and others.
