The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, a program focused on tribal development to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities across India. With a budget of Rs 79,156 crore, this tribal development initiative aims to benefit over five crore tribal people living in 63,000 tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.

The main goal of the program is to address gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods in these areas. According to a government statement, the program will bring together various government schemes to ensure the overall and sustainable development of tribal communities.

tribal development
Image Source: PM India

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the program will be implemented over the next five years. The central government will provide Rs 56,333 crore, while the state governments will contribute Rs 22,823 crore. The program's main aim is to improve basic services for tribal households, such as strong houses (pucca housing), clean drinking water, electricity, and healthcare.

Improving infrastructure and livelihoods

In addition to this, the program will also focus on upgrading village infrastructure, like building better roads and improving mobile network coverage. It will also help tribal people by promoting skill development and entrepreneurship to boost their economic growth.

One of the key parts of the program is promoting sustainable livelihoods for 22 lakh forest rights holders. The scheme will involve efforts from several ministries, including Agriculture, Tribal Affairs, and Animal Husbandry, to help these communities. The tribal villages covered under this program will be mapped on the PM Gati Shakti Portal, which will track progress both physically and financially.

Awards for top-performing tribal districts

New schemes like tribal homestays and the establishment of 100 Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMC) will be launched to promote tourism and help sell products made by tribal communities. The best-performing districts will be awarded based on their progress.

The program also aims to improve the infrastructure of government-run schools and hostels in tribal areas. It will focus on improving facilities for diagnosing sickle cell disease, especially in states where it is more common. The scheme consists of 25 welfare components across six main categories: household and community infrastructure, connectivity, health, education, electrification, and economic empowerment. Some key elements include the implementation of schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for housing, Ayushman Bharat for healthcare, and solar rooftop promotion for electrification.

The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan is designed to bring positive changes and long-lasting development to India's tribal communities. It focuses on key areas like improving living conditions and supporting the rights of forest-dwelling people. The government also plans to speed up the process of recognizing the land rights of tribal people under the Forest Rights Act. This will help them better manage and protect their forestlands.

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