Wednesday saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi starting a ₹24,000 crore mission. With the goal to uplift the lives of approximately 2.8 million individuals from particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), the scheme spans across 220 districts. This move from the government comes just in time before the general elections and marks its attempt to connect with India’s tribal communities. In a tribute to tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda, Modi launched the initiative in Jharkhand’s Khunti district on Munda's birth anniversary. Highlighting the government’s devotion to the upliftment of disadvantaged and marginalized communities, he explained his administration's interpretation of secularism.

“Modi has made the deprived his priority… I have come to this land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda to repay the debt that I owe to the deprived,” he said. "Social justice is now a generic term. Modi is now looking at adivasi nyay (justice for tribals).,” Modi asserted.

Hitting the ground running, Modi also inaugurated and laid down plans for projects worth ₹7,200 crore. These projects include:

  • Widening the 52-km stretch of the Mahagama-Hansdiha section of National Highway-133 and the 45-km stretch of Basukinath-Deoghar section of National Highway-114A.
  •  Establishing the KDH-Purnadih coal handling plant.
  •  Building a new academic and administrative section for the Indian Institute of Information Technology-Ranchi.

Enforcing his belief in a discrimination-free society, Modi said,

"True secularism comes only when all possibilities of discrimination against any citizen of the country are eliminated."

He stressed on social justice being achieved when all citizens receive equal benefits from government schemes. This is the driving force behind the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which Modi inaugurated. He promises that under this scheme, the government, on a mission mode, will visit villages across the country and provide underprivileged individuals access to beneficiary government schemes. Officials elaborated on the PVTG mission that intends to offer basic facilities including road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water, sanitation, enhanced access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

"Today we are launching the PM Jan Man (PM PVTG) mission to reach out the last person standing among the most primitive of tribes... We will provide them everything required for their mainstreaming and pasting them fruits of development,” Modi said.

You might also be intersted in - Security Agencies on alert after threat to kill PM Modi and bomb Narendra Modi Stadium