The government’s Antyodaya mantra has successfully included India’s most marginalized communities in the path of comprehensive development. This initiative aims to prioritize those who have been historically left behind, ensuring they have access to opportunities and progress. The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) program, with a budget of Rs 24,104 crore, specifically targets the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), some of India’s most isolated communities lacking basic amenities like proper housing, clean water, and electricity.
The PM JANMAN program, launched in November 2023, focuses on 75 PVTG communities spread across 18 states and 1 union territory. It involves 11 interventions coordinated by 9 ministries to address crucial needs such as housing, road connectivity, water supply, healthcare, education, and vocational training. These efforts have resulted in the construction of 7.8 lakh pucca houses in tribal villages, provision of clean drinking water to over 28,303 villages, and the electrification of 589,812 tribal households, significantly improving their living standards.
Over the past 12 years, the establishment of Eklavya Model Residential Schools has revolutionized tribal education infrastructure in remote regions. With a current enrollment of over 1.56 lakh students in 499 schools and 323 schools under construction, these schools have brought quality education closer to Scheduled Tribe communities that were historically underserved. Additionally, the government’s focus on tribal regions, aspirational districts, and remote habitations has enhanced development planning and monitoring, ensuring last-mile delivery in previously hard-to-reach areas.
The PM-AJAY initiative, launched in 2021, concentrates on the holistic development of Scheduled Caste-majority villages. By supporting infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and livelihood opportunities in underserved SC communities, PM-AJAY has positively impacted over 4 crore Scheduled Caste citizens and 83 lakh households across 47,334 villages in 597 districts. The program emphasizes village-level planning, infrastructure monitoring, and youth engagement to foster long-term economic participation and sustainable development.
