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Arjun Munda Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

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Wife: Meera Munda
Hometown: Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
Age: 55 Years

Arjun Munda

Bio/Wiki
Profession(s)Politician, Social Activist
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 173 cm
in meters- 1.73 m
in feet & inches- 5’ 8”
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourBlack
Politics
Political Party• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) symbol
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flag
Political Journey• Joined JMM

• Contested and won the Bihar Legislative Assembly polls from the Kharasawan (ST) constituency (1995)

• Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (1995-2000)

• Left JMM and joined the BJP (1988)

• Contested and won the Bihar Vidhan Sabha elections from the Kharasawan (ST) constituency (2000)

• Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (till the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar)

• Contested and won the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha elections from the Kharasawan (ST) constituency (2000)

• Minister of Tribal Affairs of Jharkhand

• Became Chief Minister of Jharkhand (2003-2005)

• Contested and won the Jharkhand assembly elections from the Kharasawan (ST) constituency (2005)

• Second tenure as the CM of Jharkhand (12 March 2005 - 19 September 2006)

• Leader of the opposition (2006-2008)

• Contested and won the Lok Sabha elections from the Jamshedpur constituency (2009)

• Member of the Consultative Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment

• Member of the Standing Committee on Energy (2009)

• Resigned from the Lok Sabha (2011)

• Contested and won the Jharkhand by-elections from the Kharasawan (ST) constituency (2011)

• Third tenure as the CM of Jharkhand

• In-charge of the Excise department of Jharkhand

• Contested and won the Jharkhand by-elections from the Khunti constituency (2019)
A photo of Arjun taken while he was being administered the oath as a parliamentarian in 2019
• Minister of Tribal Affairs (30 May 2019 - present)
Arjun Munda with government officials while serving as the Minister of Tribal Affairs
• Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (7 December 2023 - present)
A photo of Arjun Munda taken after he took over the Ministry of Agriculture And Farmers' Welfare
Notable Schemes As CMAs the CM of Jharkhand, Munda is credited with enacting numerous schemes in the state, which have been adopted by many states. Some of his notable schemes are -
• Kanyadan Yojana: This program primarily aims to offer financial support for the weddings of girls from families belonging to the BPL category.
• Mukhya Mantri Ladli Laxmi Yojana: This program was initiated to offer financial assistance for the education and well-being of girls from families below the poverty line and those with an annual income not exceeding Rs. 72,000.
• Aapka-cm: The grievance management system was established to enable individuals to directly communicate their concerns to the Chief Minister, ensuring a prompt and effective resolution by the state leadership.
• Mukhya Mantri Dal Bhat Yojna: The government initiated this program to offer affordable and nutritious food to the poor and the needy individuals. Numerous kitchens were set up at public locations like railway stations, bus stands, and government hospitals, offering meals to those in need for a basic fee of Rs. 5.
• Yuwa Kaushal Vikas Scheme: The program involved providing laptops and tablets to students who successfully completed their class 12 exams, with the goal of preparing them for technological advancements taking place in the world.
• Van Dhan Yojana: Munda was a key force behind the initiation of this program, which sought to enhance the well-being of Jharkhand's tribal population by providing educational and employment options.
Personal Life
Date of Birth3 May 1968 (Friday)
Age (as of 2023)55 Years
BirthplaceJamshedpur, East Singhbhum, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), India
Zodiac signTaurus
SignatureSignature of Arjun Munda
NationalityIndian
HometownJamshedpur, Jharkhand
SchoolHe did his matriculation from the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) and completed his schooling at Jamshedpur.
College/University• Ranchi University
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Educational Qualification(s)• BA in Political Science from Ranchi University
• Diploma in social science from IGNOU (1994) [1]MyNeta
ReligionHinduism

Note: He is a follower of Goddess Durga.
CasteScheduled Tribe
AddressHouse No. 64-A, Khelarisai, P.O. Kharsawan, Distt. Seraikela Kharsawan-833216, Jharkhand, India
HobbiesListening to music, reading books, painting
ControversyAccused of Contesting Elections Falsely From A Constituency Reserved for the STs
In 2011, during the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly bye-election, Bahadur Oraon, a CPI(ML) candidate, filed a complaint against Arjun Munda with the Returning Officer. Oraon alleged that Munda was incorrectly running for the Scheduled Tribes reserved constituency, claiming that Munda belonged to the OBC category, not ST. Oraon further stated that he possessed all necessary documents to prove his allegations against Munda. In his complaint, Oraon claimed,

"Munda is a Tamaria, which was considered a backward category till 2002. After he became the chief minister the same year, he got Tamaria enlisted in the ST category. He did not face much difficulty as the BJP-led NDA government was at the helm of affairs at the Centre then." [2]The Tribune

Munda later defended himself by claiming the allegations to be untrue and baseless. He also said that the opposition parties were working against him to decrease his credibility amongst the tribal population in Jharkhand. While giving an interview, Munda said,

"They (the opposition) are free to put forward their version. But the allegation is baseless. The issue is being wrecked up ahead of the poll with the sole motive of driving political mileage by confusing the tribals." [3]The Economic Times
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Marriage Date13 March 1993
Family
Wife/SpouseMeera Munda (BJP politician, researcher on tribal affairs, former vice president of the Jharkhand state committee of BJP)
Arjun posing for a photo with his wife Meera
ChildrenSon(s)- 3
• Abhishek Singh Munda (doctor)
Abhishek Singh Munda with Arjun Munda
• Avinash Singh Munda
• Abhinav Singh Munda
Arjun with Abhinav Munda (middle) and Avinash Munda (left)
Daughter- None
ParentsFather- Ganesh Munda (died during Arjun's childhood)
Mother- Saira Munda (daily wage labour)
SiblingsBrother- 1
• Bhim Singh Munda (politician, social activist)
Sister(s)- 2
• Siban Solanki (died in 2020)
Arjun Munda's sister
• Dakshini Solanki
Style Quotient
Car Collection• Maruti Suzuki Zen
• Ford Ikon
• Mahindra Bolero
Money Factor
Salary (approx.)Salary (as an MP)- Rs. 2 lacs + other allowances (as of 2022) [4]Zee News
Income- Rs. 14,59,348 (for the financial year 2017-2018) [5]MyNeta
Assets/PropertiesMovable Assets
• Cash: Rs. 2,94,347
• Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs. 83,45,524
• Bonds, Debentures, and Shares in companies: Rs. 17,00,000
• LIC or other insurance Policies: Rs. 12,50,000
• Motor Vehicles: Rs. 12,69,200
• Jewellery: Rs. 1,11,450
• Other Assets: Rs. 59,880

Immovable Assets
• Residential Buildings: Rs. 35,00,000

Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents. [6]MyNeta
Net Worth (approx.)Rs. 1,47,69,052

Note: The net worth was for the year 2019. It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents. [7]MyNeta

Arjun Munda

Some Lesser Known Facts About Arjun Munda

  • Arjun Munda is an Indian social activist and politician, who is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has gained prominence for serving as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister thrice. He again came into the limelight following the Union government’s decision to appoint him as Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
  • Arjun was born into a middle-class family.
  • Munda’s mother had to work as a labourer to cater to the needs of the family after the death of his father.
  • During his graduation at Ranchi University, he joined the All Jharkhand Students Union and became a member. He became associated with the movement demanding the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar while being part of the student union.
  • As the Minister of Tribal Affairs in Jharkhand, he is recognized for formulating policies that led to enhancing the quality of life for the secluded tribal community.
  • In 2000, after Bihar was divided, leading to the formation of Jharkhand, Munda played a crucial role in the establishment of the Jharkhand Cricket Association.
  • He became the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the first time by replacing Babulal Marandi. Reportedly, Babulal quit his post as the CM following the demand of the other coalition parties with which the BJP had formed its government in the state.

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was serving as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was serving as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand

  • Soon after taking control of the office of the CM, Munda worked towards stabilizing the situation in the state that had become sensitive due to the passage of the Jharkhand Domicile Act. As per the legislation, individuals residing in Jharkhand without their ancestors’ names recorded in the 1932 land survey were regarded as non-natives of the state.
  • Arjun Munda’s vehicle caught fire in 2008 while he was on his way home after attending a political rally in Jharkhand.
  • Arjun Munda won the 2009 general assembly elections by receiving 1,19,663 votes more than his nearest rival Suman Mahato, a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate.

    A photo of Munda taken during a speech in the Lok Sabha

    A photo of Munda taken during a speech in the Lok Sabha

  • Arjun received 17,000 more votes than his closest Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) rival, Dasrath Gagrai, in the bye-elections that were conducted in Jharkhand in the Kharasawan (ST) assembly constituency in 2011.

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was campaigning

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was campaigning

  • He was taken to the Tata Hospital in the same year after his health deteriorated.
  • In 2012, Arjun, along with his sons Abhinav and Avinash, visited the United States of America. According to sources, Arjun had escorted his sons to the US for the treatment of a rare blood disease with which his sons were diagnosed. Reportedly, the Jharkhand government issued a grant worth Rs. 70 lakh to cover the expenses incurred in the US for travelling, lodging, and treatment.
  • He and Meera, his wife, were taken to a hospital in Jharkhand after their chopper crashed due to technical failure. Reportedly, both, Meera and Arjun, received minor injuries.
  • Arjun has enacted many schemes in his three tenures as the Chief Minister. He played a crucial role in appointing Jharkhand’s first Lokayukta.
  • He also led the government in organizing the first gram panchayat elections in the state. He played a key role in giving authority to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), resulting in enhanced local self-governance. He, in an interview, talked about it and said,

    Under the Governor’s Rule, there was no accountability of the government at any level. The Assembly was kept under suspended animation, there was no local body or panchayat, where the people could go and complain about their problems and get them resolved. There was a complete vacuum and lack of accountable government authorities at all the levels in the state.”

  • To ensure and improve transparency in issuing and allocating tenders, Arjun Munda, as the CM, implemented an e-tender system. It also ensured that no partiality took place while awarding the tenders.
  • Under his leadership, the Jharkhand government established numerous zones in different parts of the state for the electricity-making companies to start their operation. His intent behind it was not only to tackle the electricity shortage but also to become an electricity-surplus state.
  • He won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by obtaining 3,82,638 votes, defeating his closest competitor Kali Charan Munda from the Indian National Congress (INC).

    Arjun Munda with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event

    Arjun Munda with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event

  • Arjun likes the sport of archery. He succeeded Vijay Kumar Malhotra as the President of the Archery Association of India (AAI) in May 2019.

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken with the Indian Archers

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken with the Indian Archers

  • In 2021, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, led by Arjun Munda, was honoured with the SKOCH Challenger Award during the Virtual SKOCH Summit.
  • In an interview, Arjun said that he likes to remain in shape by exercising regularly by indulging in yoga and jogging. He also said that he likes to remain fit and healthy because today’s voters like to vote for those politicians who are fit.
  • He has a passion for golf and prefers to play on the Golmuri golf course in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
  • Arjun Munda is the writer of Sadan Mein Samvaad, a book.

    Arjun Munda sitting with his book Sadan Mein Samvaad

    Arjun Munda sitting with his book Sadan Mein Samvaad

  • He is proficient in playing the flute and other tribal musical instruments.
  • Arjun is multi lingual. He can speak many languages fluently, such as English, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Jharkhandi, Santhali, Mundari, Ho, and Oraon.
  • Arjun, other than politics, participates in social activism and advocates for the rights of tribal communities not only in Jharkhand but also in neighbouring states such as Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
  • Arjun Munda loves travelling, and he has visited many nations, such as France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
  • He joined the G20 working group as a member in 2023.

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was participating in the working group of the G20

    A photo of Arjun Munda taken while he was participating in the working group of the G20

References/Sources:[+]