As India prepares to celebrate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15, commemorating the birth anniversary of the legendary tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, the nation stands witness to a transformative chapter in tribal welfare. Across the country—from the hills of Tripura to the heartlands of Jharkhand and Odisha—the government’s focused efforts on education, housing, healthcare, connectivity, and skill development are reshaping the lives of Scheduled Tribes (STs), reinforcing the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.”
A Historic Commitment to Tribal Development
Over the past decade, India has seen an unprecedented expansion in tribal development initiatives. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ budget has grown by more than 200%, from ₹4,296 crore in 2013–14 to ₹14,926 crore in 2025–26—demonstrating the government’s unwavering commitment to inclusion and equality.
Two flagship initiatives—Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)—stand at the heart of this transformation. While PM JUGA focuses on the comprehensive development of tribal villages, PM JANMAN targets the holistic upliftment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across India.
PM JUGA: Transforming 63,000 Tribal Villages
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on October 2, 2024, PM JUGA—also known as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan—is India’s largest-ever tribal development program. With a budget of ₹79,156 crore, it aims to benefit over 5 crore tribal citizens across 63,000 villages in 549 districts.
Seventeen Union ministries are collaborating to bridge gaps in housing, education, healthcare, roads, digital access, clean water, and livelihoods. The program’s major targets include:
-
20 lakh pucca houses under PM Awas Yojana–Gramin
-
25,000 km of rural roads through PM Gram Sadak Yojana
-
1,000 mobile health units under Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
-
5,000 tribal villages with broadband connectivity via BharatNet
-
8,000 upgraded Anganwadi Centres under Poshan Abhiyan
-
25 lakh LPG connections through PM Ujjwala Yojana
-
1,000 hostels and Ashram schools under Samagra Shiksha
-
Solar electrification and water supply under PM Surya and Jal Jeevan Mission
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), PM JUGA integrates economic empowerment, environmental conservation, and social inclusion—building resilient and self-reliant tribal communities.
Tripura: Leading by Example in Inclusive Budgeting
In the northeastern state of Tripura, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha recently announced that over 40% of the 2025–26 state budget has been allocated for Janajati (tribal) area development—a record commitment toward inclusive growth.
Through initiatives such as PM Kaushalya Yojana, Mukhyamantri Dakkhata Yojana, and the Swabalamban Yojana, Tripura has expanded skill development and self-employment opportunities for its tribal youth, particularly among the Reang (Bru) community.
The Tripura Skill and Entrepreneurship Policy 2024 has already enrolled 35,000 youth for training in emerging sectors such as AI, renewable energy, healthcare, and IT services. Notably, some of these skilled candidates have been sent to Japan for employment—marking a first in the state’s history.
Jharkhand: The Epicentre of Tribal Heritage
The state of Jharkhand, the birthplace of Birsa Munda, remains at the core of India’s tribal identity and resurgence. On Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2024, Prime Minister Modi launched several landmark projects from Khunti and Hazaribagh, including:
-
PM JANMAN, focused on saturating PVTG families with essential amenities
-
40 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and foundation stones for 25 more
-
Infrastructure projects worth ₹7,200 crore across road, rail, and energy sectors
-
Tribal art and culture exhibitions, alongside the unveiling of a Birsa Munda statue by Union Home Minister Amit Shah
These initiatives reaffirm Jharkhand’s dual role as a symbol of tribal pride and a hub of modern development.
Odisha: Expanding Opportunities and Protecting Heritage
Home to one of India’s largest tribal populations, Odisha continues to lead with progressive welfare policies for Scheduled Tribes. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 expanded the ST list to include communities such as the Muka Dora and Konda Reddy, granting them access to reserved benefits in education, employment, and political representation.
The state’s Adivasi Shiksha Rinn Yojana (ASRY) provides soft education loans with interest subsidies to promote higher education among tribal students. Simultaneously, the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) Odisha promotes research, preserves tribal heritage, and supports sustainable livelihood programs through forest and land rights initiatives.
During his visit to Bondaghati in Malkangiri district, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati underscored the importance of holistic development for the Bonda tribe, one of India’s PVTGs.
“The development of Bondaghati must be holistic, focusing not only on agriculture but also on alternative livelihood options like cattle, goat, and poultry rearing to enhance income generation for the Bonda community,” the Governor said during an interaction at the Bonda Development Agency campus.
He reviewed the implementation of welfare schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM JANMAN, and Forest Rights Act land pattas, while also distributing financial assistance and engaging with women self-help groups. His visit reinforced Odisha’s commitment to balancing modern development with cultural preservation.
A Decade of Transformation
India’s achievements in tribal development over the past decade speak volumes about inclusive progress:
-
23.88 lakh Forest Rights Act titles distributed
-
Over 1 crore ST students benefited from scholarships
-
4,465 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras established for forest-based livelihoods
-
346 Eklavya Model Residential Schools serving over 1.3 lakh students
-
118 TRIBES India outlets supporting 3,000+ tribal artisans
-
₹383 crore financial assistance disbursed through the NSTFDC
These milestones represent empowerment, opportunity, and dignity for millions of tribal citizens across the country.
Towards a Viksit Bharat
As President Droupadi Murmu aptly stated during the Aadi Mahotsav 2025,
“Only when the tribal society progresses, our country will also progress in the true sense.”
India’s tribal development journey today goes far beyond welfare—it embodies empowerment, sustainability, and equal participation in the nation’s growth story. From Tripura’s hills to Odisha’s forests, and from Jharkhand’s heartlands to Gujarat’s tribal belts, the government’s focused initiatives are ensuring that no community is left behind.
This Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, India celebrates not only the indomitable spirit of Birsa Munda but also the enduring legacy of the nation’s tribal communities—stronger, prouder, and more self-reliant than ever before.