The conference aimed to identify gaps and address challenges in ensuring comprehensive facilities for PVTG communities, fostering progress through collaborative learning and the exchange of best practices.

The ministry of tribal affairs hosted a district magistrates’ conference on the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) on Wednesday. The conference spotlighted on six core areas of the Abhiyan: rural development (housing and roads), school hostels, access to drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, operationalization of anganwadis, and establishment of multi-purpose centres (MPCs).

A spokesperson of the ministry said that the PM JANMAN scheme delivers essential amenities, including safe housing, clean drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, education, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihoods. It seeks to bridge development gaps in remote tribal areas through initiatives such as constructing pucca houses, deploying mobile medical units, establishing health and wellness centres, and setting up Van Dhan Vikas Kendras alongside skill development programs.

With a budget of ₹24,000 crore allocated for three years (2023-24 to 2025-26), the program is executed through collaboration among nine line Ministries/Departments. PM JANMAN is designed to address the unique challenges faced by PVTGs while promoting their integration into the nation’s socio-economic framework.

The ministry of tribal affairs, as the nodal body, has been working closely with line ministries and state tribal welfare departments (TWDs) to identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks promptly. As the program enters its final year, efforts are concentrated on maximising benefits for beneficiaries, accelerating progress, and achieving saturation of benefits in PVTG villages and habitations.

To support this objective, the ministry hosted a district magistrates’ conference on PM JANMAN on Wednesday. The conference put the spotlight on six core areas of the abhiyan: rural development (housing and roads), school hostels, access to drinking water under the jal jeevan mission, operationalisation of Anganwadis, and establishment of multi-purpose centres (MPCs).

Role of District Magistrates

Minister of tribal affairs, Jual Oram, in his inaugural speech, emphasised the pivotal role of district magistrates, as nodal officers, in ensuring effective and comprehensive implementation of the PM JANMAN scheme. The minister of state for tribal affairs, Durgadas Uikey, urged district collectors and state authorities to prioritise the efficient execution of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) schemes, ensuring active participation of tribal communities in realising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.

In his contextual address, Vibhu Nayar, secretary of the ministry of tribal affairs, commended the efforts of officials in advancing the schemes and emphasised the importance of achieving on-ground physical completion of identified gaps. He stressed the need to ensure that all essential facilities reach PVTG communities, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision.

The conference aimed to identify gaps and address challenges in ensuring comprehensive facilities for PVTG communities, fostering progress through collaborative learning and the exchange of best practices. It was specifically designed to highlight success stories and drive improvements in districts with significant potential for growth.

Best Practices

Key thematic areas discussed during the conference included:

• Aawas: Progress in the sanctioning and construction of houses.
• Roads: Updates on road connectivity projects.
• Drinking Water: Efforts to saturate villages and habitations with reliable drinking water supply.
• Anganwadis: Construction and operationalisation of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in PVTG habitations.
• School Hostels: Sanctioning and construction progress of hostels.
• MPCs: Development and operationalisation of Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs).
• VDVKs: Operationalisation of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, including training programs, business plan development, and toolkit distribution.

The conference saw active participation from state tribal welfare departments (TWDs), district magistrates, and their teams, including project officers of the integrated tribal development agencies (PO ITDA) and district/state welfare officers (DSWO/DWO) overseeing tribal welfare, with three members representing each district.

A total of 88 districts from 18 states participated in the conference, engaging in discussions and sharing insights to develop a comprehensive action plan for the implementation of PM JANMAN. Districts recognised as high performers in the core focus areas presented their best practices, offering valuable learning opportunities for other districts.

At the conclusion of the breakout sessions, the participating Ministries and Departments presented consolidated action plans and deliberated on the way forward to ensure effective and impactful implementation.

The conference emphasised last-mile delivery to achieve targets, enhance access to essential services, improve the socio-economic conditions of PVTG communities, and preserve their cultural heritage. With the event’s conclusion, it is anticipated that the policy-to-grassroots gap will be effectively bridged, accelerating the implementation of PM JANMAN with a focus on reaching the most remote and underserved communities.