Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to start a ₹24,000 crore program to help vulnerable tribal groups. It will begin on November 15 in Jharkhand, as announced by official sources on Monday.
The plan, called PVTG Development Mission, will be a significant move to empower tribal communities, making it a unique and pioneering initiative, according to sources.
In the 2023-24 budget, a scheme was introduced to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
In 2021, the Modi government declared that the birth anniversary of the respected tribal warrior Birsa Munda, born in Jharkhand, would be celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
Officials report that there are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in 18 states and Union territories, residing in 22,544 villages spread across 220 districts with a total population of approximately 28 lakhs.
These tribes live in isolated, distant, and hard-to-reach areas, often within forest regions. Therefore, the mission aims to provide essential amenities to PVTG families and their habitats. This includes things like road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water, sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The mission will be carried out by combining 11 actions from nine ministries, aligning with various ongoing welfare programs that focus on rural roads, rural housing, and drinking water. Officials mentioned that certain rules of the schemes will be adjusted to include these distant habitats.
Moreover, the mission will make sure that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna, efforts to eliminate Sickle Cell disease and Tuberculosis, achieving 100% immunization, and implementing programs like PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan, and PM Jan Dhan Yojana receive comprehensive coverage, among other initiatives.