Press note Details: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Empowering Tribals, Transforming India

Landmark Initiatives for Inclusive Growth

Posted On: 29 JUL 2024 5:08PM

India will prosper when our tribal communities prosper, the welfare of tribal communities is our foremost priority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India's rich tapestry of diversity is exemplified by its significant tribal population, comprising 8.9% of the nation as per the 2011 Census. These communities, with their unique cultures and traditions, have played a crucial role in shaping India's history and identity.

In 2024, the Indian government continues its commitment to inclusive growth, implementing targeted programs to enhance the socioeconomic well-being of minority populations, including tribal communities. These initiatives span education, skill development, healthcare, and community infrastructure to create equitable opportunities and integrate minorities into the national growth narrative.

The government's dedication is further evidenced by its recognition of tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle. Heroes like Gond Maharani Veer Durgavati, Rani Kamalapati, and the Bhils who fought alongside Maharana Pratap are celebrated for their bravery and sacrifices.

A significant milestone was reached in 2021 with the declaration of November 15, Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. This unprecedented move honors the art, culture, and freedom struggle contributions of tribal communities, marking a new era of pride and recognition for their integral role in India's past, present, and future.

Empowering the Tribal Communities

The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) is a transformative initiative launched by the Indian government to improve the lives of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 States and a Union Territory. With a substantial budget of ₹24,104 crore, including ₹15,336 crore from the Central Government and ₹8,768 crore from States/UTs, this mission aims to address critical infrastructure and basic needs of these tribal communities over three years. PM-JANMAN focuses on providing essential facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, improved access to education, health and nutrition services, road and telecom connectivity, electrification, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

To ensure effective implementation, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is utilizing the PM Gati Shakti mobile application for data collection, enabling accurate identification of population figures and infrastructure gaps in PVTG areas. The mission encompasses 11 critical interventions implemented across 9 Ministries, showcasing a comprehensive approach to tribal welfare. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) camps and Common Services Centers (CSCs) have been organized to assist PVTG households in obtaining essential documents like Aadhar Cards, caste certificates, and Jan Dhan bank accounts, facilitating their access to various government schemes.

In the realm of education and skill development, PM-JANMAN has made significant strides. During the 2024-25 period, 25,421 PVTG beneficiaries across 15 states received entrepreneurship and skill training through the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). This training focuses on establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), promoting sustainable livelihoods, market development, and value addition to Minor Forest Produce (MFP). The Ministry of Education also has sanctioned 100 hostels under the Samagra Shiksha program, enhancing educational opportunities for PVTG students. These initiatives collectively demonstrate the government's commitment to empowering PVTGs through improved access to education, skill development, and sustainable livelihood opportunities, marking a significant step towards inclusive growth and integrating these vulnerable communities into India's broader development narrative.

Educational Empowerment

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been established to provide quality education to ST students from Class VI to XII in remote areas, offering comprehensive residential schooling facilities. The scheme aims to set up an EMRS in each block with over 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons by 2026. To date, 708 EMRSs have been sanctioned, with 405 currently functional. These schools have a capacity of 480 students each, maintaining an equal ratio of boys to girls.

The EMRS infrastructure includes modern classrooms, administrative blocks, hostels, playgrounds, and labs. The government provides substantial financial support, with construction grants of Rs 37.80 crore for plain areas and Rs 48 crore for Northeast, hilly, and Left-Wing Extremism affected areas. Additionally, a recurring grant of Rs 1.09 lakh per student per annum is allocated.

The curriculum at EMRS is aligned with CBSE standards and integrates modern technology, including smartboards and Direct-to-Home (DTH) education. Students also benefit from online tutoring for competitive exams such as IIT and NEET. The scheme emphasizes holistic development, featuring 15 Centres of Excellence for Sports, skill development programs for enhanced employability, and special initiatives like Poshan Vatikas and adventure activities.

To staff these schools, over 8,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel have been recruited. This comprehensive approach aims to uplift tribal students, ensuring their integration into mainstream education while preserving their cultural heritage. The EMRS scheme, along with various fellowship and scholarship programs, represents a significant investment in the educational future of India's tribal youth, preparing them for success in higher education and beyond.

Economic Empowerment

Prioritizing the welfare of tribal communities, the Union government has significantly increased its focus on tribal development. In the Union Budget 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of about ₹13,000 crore for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, marking a substantial 73.60% increase compared to the Revised Estimate of 2023-24. This substantial increase reflects the government's commitment to tribal welfare, with the allocation rising from ₹4,295.94 crore in 2013-14 to ₹13,000 crore in 2024-25, representing an increase of approximately 189.02% in a decade.

A major initiative announced in the 2024-25 Budget is the PM - Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyaan, aimed at achieving full saturation of basic facilities for five crore Scheduled Tribe families across 63,000 villages in tribal-majority areas and aspirational districts. This scheme complements the existing PM-JANMAN, which focuses on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

The government continues to support tribal and minority development through various comprehensive schemes. A key initiative is the PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan) scheme, a comprehensive skilling program aligned with the 'Skill India Mission'. PM VIKAS aims to empower minority and artisan communities, focusing on skilling, entrepreneurship, and leadership training. The scheme targets benefiting approximately 9 lakh candidates during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021 to 2026), converging five previous livelihood schemes including Seekho aur Kamao (SAK) and Nai Manzil.

For tribal communities, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has implemented several targeted programs. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) is a cornerstone initiative, with a budget of ₹1,612 crore approved for five years to promote livelihood-driven tribal development across the country. TRIFED is the implementing agency for this scheme. Under this mission, more than 3,800 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have been established since 2019, covering over 10 lakh individuals across 28 States/UTs. These VDVKs play a crucial role in ensuring the procurement of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and providing forward and backward market linkages for tribal products. Notably, 87 MFPs have been added to the list of notified items covered under the MSP for MFP scheme. Additionally, the scheme includes the setting up of Haat Bazars and Warehouses to support these efforts.

TRIFED also offers backward and forward linkages to empanelled tribal artisans and suppliers for marketing their products, including metal craft, textile, jewellry, painting, cane and bamboo, terracotta and pottery, and organic and natural food products through online and offline platforms. An amount of Rs. 319.65 crore has been released as revolving funds, and Rs. 587.36 crore has been sanctioned for establishing 3,958 VDVKs across the country.

National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) provides concessional loans to eligible Scheduled Tribe persons for livelihood and income-generating activities through schemes such as the Term Loan Scheme, Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY), Micro Credit Scheme for Self Help Groups (MCF), and Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY). Since these schemes became operational, Rs. 3,671.48 crore has been disbursed to 15,19,608 beneficiaries.

The Government of India also issues advisories to State Governments and UT Administrations for the effective implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to address crimes against the Scheduled Tribes community.

Improved Infrastructure and Livelihood Opportunities

The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) aims to provide basic infrastructure in villages with a significant tribal population. Under the scheme, 36428 villages having 50% tribal population and 500 Scheduled Tribes (STs) have been identified for providing basic infrastructure facilities in these villages, which includes villages in the Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog. Out of the total Aspirational Districts, 86 Districts are common wherein 10509 villages are covered under PMAAGY.

Initiatives for Better Health Outcomes

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through the National Health Mission, has implemented a comprehensive guideline to control and prevent Haemoglobinopathies, including Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Launched by the Prime Minister from Madhya Pradesh on July 1, 2023, the Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission aims to provide affordable and accessible care, enhance the quality of care for SCD patients, and reduce SCD prevalence through awareness creation and universal screening.

The mission targets screening 7 crore people aged 0-40 in 278 affected districts, with 3.37 crore individuals screened so far. World Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19, 2024, themed "Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally," underscores the importance of global collaboration in enhancing SCD treatment and care.

Other health-related schemes, such as Mission Indradhanush, aimed at ensuring full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years of age and pregnant women and provision of free vaccines against COVID-19, have laid stress on Adivasi communities. Another important scheme with special reference to tribal groups is the Nikshay Mitra initiative to ensure additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support to those on tuberculosis treatment.

In addition to the above, the Support to Tribal Research Institute (TRI) scheme aims to strengthen TRIs to carry out research, documentation, training and capacity-building activities and serve as a knowledge hub catering to overall tribal development.

Honouring and Celebrating India’s Tribal Communities

Since Independence, India has developed various models for tribal development, with the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), later known as the Schedule Tribe Component (STC) and Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST), leading the way. Over the past decade, the budget for DAPST has surged fivefold from Rs. 24,598 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,19,509 crore in 2023-24. This substantial increase reflects a unified approach across 42 Union Ministries and Departments working together for tribal welfare.

All these initiatives, along with other steps taken by the government, have paved the path of bringing the tribal communities into the mainstream while honouring their cultures, legacies, and ways of life.

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REFERENCES:

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