PM-JANMAN: An Integrated Approach to Improve the Lives of Tribal Communities

Scheduled Tribe communities lie at the bottom of the Indian social structure. The population of these Scheduled Tribes in India according to the census of 2011 is 10.45 Cr. It is necessary for the government to have a prime goal of uplifting these tribal communities economically as well as socially and bringing these communities at par with the other communities. Many policies and schemes are in place for tribal welfare such as the Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, MGNREGA, and as recently as Pradhan Mantri Janjatya Unnat Gram Abhiyan which was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget of 2024-25. However, within these tribal communities, there are further communities which are marginalised. These communities are called PVTGs – Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

In 2023 March, the Prime Minister said, “There are communities that are marginalised within marginalised, likewise these are marginalised Adivasis within Adivasi communities” referring to PVTGs and introduced a scheme, PM-JANMAN – PM Jan Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan. He further added that the government will spend 24,000 Cr rupees on this scheme. This scheme envisions improving the socio-economic status of PVTGs through improving basic infrastructure, education and health and enhancing livelihood opportunities.

This scheme is an interministerial convergence of 9 ministries which will work together for the welfare of the PVTGs through 11 critical interventions, these interventions are explained in detail below: