In a significant move towards tribal welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release the first installment of ₹540 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan. The welfare scheme, which was announced on November 15, 2023, in Khunti, Jharkhand, aims to construct 490,000 houses for tribal communities by the year 2026, with each household receiving ₹2.39 lakh.
This initiative is part of the larger Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget of the previous year. The mission allocates a substantial budget of ₹15,000 crore over the next three years to uplift particularly vulnerable tribal groups, providing them with essential amenities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, education, nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and livelihood opportunities.
The overall budgetary outlay for the tribal welfare scheme stands at ₹24,104 crore. Out of this, the Centre contributes ₹15,336 crore, and the states provide ₹8,768 crore. The scheme encompasses 11 projects across nine ministries, emphasizing a holistic approach to tribal development.
The tribal housing scheme has gained momentum in the past two months, with various ministries approving projects worth ₹4,700 crore. The approved projects span crucial areas such as rural development, jal shakti, health and family welfare, tribal affairs, education, and communications.
As part of the broader initiative, 916 day care centers, or anganwadi centers, have been sanctioned with a budget of ₹12 lakh per center, totaling ₹126 crore. Of these, 816 centers are expected to be operational by the end of January. The government has ambitious plans to establish 2,500 anganwadis by 2026.
Additionally, the scheme envisions setting up 1,000 medical mobile units (MMUs) with a budget of ₹34 crore over three years. The initial phase includes the sanctioning of 100 MMUs at ₹34 lakh per MMU, totaling ₹34 crore.
In the education sector, the Ministry of Education plans to construct and run 500 hostels by 2026. The first phase involves the approval of 100 hostels at ₹2.75 crore per hostel, amounting to ₹275 crore.
The Communications Ministry aims to enhance connectivity by installing cellphone towers in all uncovered villages and habitations by 2026. To kickstart this, 206 towers covering 503 villages have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹243 crore.
Moreover, the government has given the green light for building 405 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (forest resource centers) at ₹5 lakh each, totaling ₹20 crore. The goal is to establish 500 such centers by 2026.
To address infrastructure needs, ₹893 crore has been approved for constructing a 1207-km road. The government aims to lay down 8,000 km of roads by 2026. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned ₹270 crore for 450 multipurpose centers at ₹60 lakh per center, targeting 1,000 such centers by 2026.
