Smt Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, accompanied by Sh Manish Thakur, Additional Secretary, MoTA, undertook an extensive field visit cum progress review across Indore division, Madhya Pradesh, today. The visit was aimed at assessing on-ground implementation of MoTA's flagship schemes and interacting directly with tribal beneficiaries. The visiting team was joined by Sh Gulshan Bamra, Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and other senior officials of the State Tribal Welfare Department.

The day began with a visit to the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) Morod (PVTG), Indore. The Secretary interacted warmly with students and teachers of Classes 6th to 12th and witnessed digital smart classrooms in use for everyday teaching. Students spoke of their aspirations to become engineers, entrepreneurs and professionals in various fields — a heartening reflection of the quality residential education being provided to Scheduled Tribe (ST) children, particularly those from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), under the PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA umbrella.

Secretary, MoTA interacting with students at EMRS Morod (PVTG), Indore

The team then proceeded to the Bunkar Suvidha Kendra at Maheshwar, Khargone district, run by a Sahayata Samuh registered under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). The Kendra is home to ST women engaged in weaving the famous Maheshwari Sarees, producing 1,000–2,000 sarees daily that reach markets through forward linkages facilitated by TRIFED, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Zilla Panchayats. The Secretary was informed that one of the weavers from the Kendra had recently walked the ramp at a fashion showcase in Delhi. The Secretary also met ST students, including a NEET-qualified aspirant, and interacted with Forest Rights Act (FRA) patta holders present at the Kendra.

ST women weavers at the Bunkar Suvidha Kendra, Maheshwar, engaged in weaving Maheshwari Sarees

At the Adi Sewa Kendra, Keriyakheri, Khargone district — a single-window facilitation centre for tribal empowerment — the Secretary observed ST community members registering facilitation requirements ranging from ration cards to scheme enrolments in a dedicated on-site register. The Kendra had recently hosted the nationwide Jan Sunwai (public hearing), bringing grievance redressal closer to the community. The Secretary interacted with ST women present at the Kendra, who expressed satisfaction at having such a facility within their neighbourhood.

 

The team subsequently visited a Tribal Homestay in Khargone district, run by a local tribal household, as an example of community-led rural tourism. The homestay offers spacious, clean and well-maintained rooms with a separate in-house kitchen, priced reasonably per night, and reported good occupancy through the week, with weekends witnessing maximum footfall. The Secretary was apprised that homestay owners receive training, handholding support and ongoing monitoring through a State-hired agency, helping ensure quality and consistency as more tribal households take up this livelihood opportunity. The Secretary interacted with the homestay owner to understand how tribal households are building sustainable livelihoods through tourism.

Secretary, MoTA interacting with the owner of a Tribal Homestay, Khargone district

Following this, the Secretary visited the Center of Competence for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at Indore, set up under MoTA's ongoing efforts towards elimination of sickle cell disease among the tribal population, and reviewed the screening, counselling and treatment support facilities available at the Centre.

The field visit concluded with a progress review meeting chaired by the Secretary at the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Indore, to assess the implementation status of MoTA schemes across Madhya Pradesh and Indore division in particular. The meeting was attended in person by representatives of concerned line departments along with senior officials of the State Tribal Welfare Department, while District Collectors from other districts of the division joined through video conferencing. During the review, the Secretary directed the Collectors to ensure expedited saturation of all MoTA schemes on the ground, emphasising the need for time-bound convergence action to ensure that intended benefits reach every eligible tribal household and habitation.

 

Secretary, MoTA chairing the scheme progress review meeting at the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Indore

The day-long field visit cum review reaffirmed the Ministry's continued focus on last-mile delivery of tribal welfare schemes, strengthening of institutional infrastructure such as Adi Sewa Kendras, and support for sustainable tribal livelihoods through skill-based enterprise, rural tourism and quality residential education.

 

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