Government Accelerates Tribal Development Initiatives in National Meeting
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) held a national review meeting with senior officials from various Central Line Ministries and State Tribal Welfare Departments to evaluate the progress of vital tribal development programs. This meeting, chaired by the Secretary of Tribal Affairs, focused on the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA), the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Maha Nyaya Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), and initiatives under Article 275(1) of the Indian Constitution.
These significant programs align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2047. The PM-JANMAN initiative aims to foster comprehensive development for 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), while DA-JGUA seeks to ensure broad-based, holistic progress for tribal communities throughout the nation. Collectively, these programs reflect the government’s dedication to inclusive growth and the empowerment of tribal populations.
DA-JGUA Enters Critical Phase
The meeting was particularly crucial as the DA-JGUA program enters its third year, a phase identified by the Ministry as vital for accelerating delivery on the ground. With initial planning stages largely completed, the focus now shifts to saturating basic infrastructure and essential services in all DA-JGUA villages.
Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary of Tribal Affairs, highlighted that achieving comprehensive entitlements—including housing, drinking water, healthcare, education, and livelihoods—is a fundamental obligation. She emphasized that any partial or delayed delivery would signify a departure from the program’s goals, with future performance assessments anchored in measurable outcomes rather than expenditures alone.
Establishing Quarterly Targets
MoTA has set sector-specific quarterly targets for all Line Ministries for the fiscal year 2026-27. Shri Manish Thakur, Additional Secretary at MoTA, stressed the importance of ministries communicating these targets to their respective state departments. He urged them to appoint DA-JGUA nodal officers at the Joint Secretary level and to provide monthly updates on physical and financial progress.
Moreover, Line Ministries were encouraged to conduct independent convergence review meetings with State Tribal Welfare Departments, enhancing accountability mechanisms beyond the MoTA-led reviews.
New Strategic Initiatives Launched
A series of new initiatives were announced during the meeting under a standardized framework, including:
- Integrated Conservation, Agro-Technology and Value-Added Bioresource Enterprise for Sustainable Tribal Livelihoods.
- Capacity Building of Tribal Healers.
- Tribal Health Observatory under Project DRISTI.
- Disease Elimination Missions targeting Malaria, Leprosy, and Tuberculosis.
- Establishment of Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs).
- Development of Tribal Freedom Fighter Model Villages (TFFMVs).
- Tribal Eco-Tourism Pilot Project and Tribal Homestay Development.
- Tribal Solar Helper Programme.
Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan’s Institutionalization
The meeting placed special emphasis on the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan (AKA), designed to enhance last-mile service delivery. The current phase prioritizes the mapping of Adi Sewa Kendras (ASKs) and the registration of Adi Karmayogi Volunteers (AKVs), who will serve as grassroots facilitators in their communities.
States were called upon to actively engage in these efforts and to ensure weekly monitoring at the district level.
Reviewing PM-JANMAN and Article 275(1)
During the meeting, the Ministry also reviewed progress under PM-JANMAN, specifically aimed at the PVTGs, and the effective use of funds allocated under Article 275(1). The Ministry acknowledged that the unique challenges faced by PVTG communities require tailored delivery mechanisms.
This includes the ongoing implementation of a comprehensive household-level survey across 18 States and one Union Territory, aimed at identifying gaps in entitlements and assessing service delivery opportunities in health, education, and livelihoods. The survey, supported by State Tribal Welfare Departments with the technical guidance of the National e-Governance Division, has already recorded approximately 200,000 household entries in just 20 days since the launch of the Survey Setu Tribal App.
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