With more than 700 tribal communities, Bharat has a rich cultural diversity. India has a Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of 10.45 crore as per the 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
In the last ten years, PM Narendra Modi has not left any stone unturned to provide this vulnerable section of society their due share of dignity and support through diligently designing policies and initiatives. One such step in this regard has been the launch of PM-JANMAN from the state of Jharkhand on November 15, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project has been introduced "to improve socioeconomic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)." The effort aims to offer PVTG homes and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, improved access to healthcare, education, nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and opportunities for sustainable livelihood.
PM-JANMAN, comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, focuses on 11 critical interventions through 9 line Ministries. The mission has a budget of Rs. 24,104 crores, of which Rs. 15,336 crore is the Central Share and Rs. 8,768 crore is the State Share for the fiscal years 2023–2024 and 2025–2026. This campaign aims to saturate PVTG families with individual entitlements and habitations with basic facilities by making these tribal communities aware of their entitlements. During the campaign, Aadhar cards, Community certificates and Jan Dhan accounts will be provided as these are basic requirements for other schemes such as the issue of Ayushman cards, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Kisan credit cards, etc. This initiative will cover every PVTG household that has remained unreached because of distance and lack of road and digital connectivity and will provide facilities at their doorstep. Places like Haat Bazar, CSC, Gram panchayat, Anganwadi, Multipurpose Centre, Vandhan Vikas Kendras, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will be used to organize these events.
Additional interventions involving several schemes and Ministries/Departments have also been identified for last-mile delivery of government support to the indigenous communities.
Another initiative called The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna seeks to change villages with a significant tribal population comprising around 4.22 crore people (almost 40% of the entire tribal population) to fill in the gaps in the development of tribal villages. By 2025–2026, 500 STs across States / UTs with notified STs and 36,428 villages with at least 50% tribal population will be covered.
A distinct Central Sector Scheme was created in 2018 to expand the geographic reach of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) to every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people based on Census 2011 data. It was done to give tribal students a high-quality education in their natural surroundings. Currently, 694 schools have received approval, and of those, 401 EMRSs are operational nationwide, serving roughly 1,18,982 children.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs awards scholarships to around 33-35 lakh ST students annually under the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship programs. Samagra Shiksha is a plan implemented by the Ministry of Education's Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) effective from 2018-19. One of the program's main goals is to close the gaps in gender and socioeconomic class at all educational levels. The program includes girls and kids from transgender, SC, ST, and minority groups.
The government's remarkable initiatives have improved the literacy rate for STs, which was 59% in the 2011 Census and has since increased to 72.1%, according to the July 2021–June 2022 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report.
Another initiative is 'Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)' which aims to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, Agri / Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) / Non-farm enterprises. National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, extends concessional loans to eligible Scheduled Tribe persons for undertaking income generation activities/ self-employment through its implementing agencies.
Along with formulating policies and landmark initiatives, the PM Modi-led government has never shied away from honouring the unsung heroes and giving them their due share of respect and a dignified place among the nationals.
In November 2023, PM Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit Ulihatu Village, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. And to pay homage and to give Bhagwan Birsa Munda the due respect, Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum was inaugurated by PM Modi on November 15, 2021. The PM honoured his sacrifice for the nation and tribal communities and is important in promoting and preserving tribal history and culture. It also highlights the bravery and selflessness of tribals, which are essential for the development of a nation.
The Modi-led government paid tribute to Bir Lachit Borphukan on his 400th birth anniversary in 2022. Another tribal hero given her due recognition is Rani Gaidinliu, a legendary freedom fighter and the epitome of courage and one of the few female political leaders who exhibited outstanding courage against the British during the colonial period. In her honour, the Kaimei Railway Station was renamed the Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station.
Several other great tribal personalities like Tantia Bhil and Bhima Nayak of Madhya Pradesh, Alluri Sitarama Raju of Andhra Pradesh, Saheed Laxman Nayak of Odisha, along with many revolutionary warriors of Madhya Pradesh include Kishore Singh, Khajya Nayak, Rani Phool Kunwar, Sitaram Kanwar, Mahua Kol, Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah have been revered by PM Modi led government.
