Social Welfare
Posted On:
08 AUG 2025 10:39AM
Key Takeaways
Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ budget tripled from rupees 4,498 crore to rupees 13,000 crore; total tribal spending across 42 ministries grew five-fold to ₹1,24,908 crore under DAPST over the last decade
25.11 lakh tribal families received Forest Rights Act titles
479 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are educating 1.38 lakh tribal students; 1.56 crore students received scholarships for higher education and Rs. 16,216.22 crore was disbursed for the scholarship schemes (2019-20 to 2024-25)
VDVKs generated ₹129.86 crore in combined sales; global recognition through Aadi Mahotsav.
Introduction
“As we celebrate Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary, let our sensitivity and compassion for society deepen. Let us commit to including every member of our community—the poor, the Dalits, the backward, the tribals—and advance together with this resolution.”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on August 15, 2024
On this World Tribal Day (August 9) —officially known as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, established by the United Nations—India exemplifies transformative empowerment of tribal communities. India’s 10.42 crore tribal peoples are among the 47.6 crore indigenous peoples across 90 countries.
The Government of India is dedicated to the betterment of India’s Scheduled Tribe communities. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ budget has nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from Rs. 4,497.96 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 13,000 crore in 2024-25, while its flagship programs demonstrate the government's commitment to "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas"—ensuring no tribal community is left behind in India's development journey.
Forty-two ministries or departments allocate from 4.3 percent to 17.45 percent of their budget each year for tribal development under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes. DAPST encompasses over 200 schemes across key sectors including education, health, agriculture, skill development, livelihoods and sanitation. Funding for DAPST increased more than five-fold over the decade, rising from Rs. 21,525.36 crore in 2013-14 (actual expenditure) to Rs. 1.25 lakh crore in 2024-25.
Expenditure under DAPST during last the 5 years made by the central ministries and departments is as follows:
India has made significant strides in empowering tribal communities through various Ministry of Tribal Affairs schemes and initiatives.
Development Programs
The Government of India addresses developmental gaps in infrastructure and education, and promotes tribal cultures and safeguards tribal rights through various flagship schemes and initiatives.
PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: Program for Tribal Village Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's largest tribal village development program on October 2, 2024, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. Also known as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, the program has a budget of Rs. 79,156 crore and involves 17 line ministries collaborating to bridge critical gaps in social infrastructure, healthcare, education, and livelihoods in approximately 63,843 tribal-majority villages and Aspirational Districts (112 of India’s most underdeveloped districts) through March 31, 2029.
Progress as of July 2025 is as follows:
Over 4 lakh pucca houses completed
692 hostels sanctioned
70 Mobile Medical Units deployed
8,654 households have electricity
2,212 villages have mobile connectivity
282 Anganwadi centres (child-care centres) are now operational
26,513 villages have piped water supply
PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan: Targeting the Particularly Vulnerable
“Our tribal population is small but dispersed in really small groups across the country in remote locations and the government is concerned about their well-being and development. To ensure that the benefits of PM JANMAN schemes reach each of them at various remote settlements in villages, hills and forests is a challenge for the government, but we are not leaving any stone unturned.”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on 15 August, 2024
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are Scheduled Tribes that show these characteristics:
Pre-agricultural level of technology
Low level of literacy
Economic backwardness
A declining or stagnant population
It is estimated that there are approximately 47.50 lakh PVTGs living across 19 states and union territories based on the mobile application-based habitation survey by the governments.
The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan works toward the socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities. The total budget of the scheme is Rs. 24,104 crore.
The details of progress under the PM JANMAN are as follows:
Aadi Karmayogi
The Aadi Karmayogi: Responsive Governance Programme equips tribal workers and government officials to drive people-centric governance by strengthening:
Effective implementation of welfare schemes
Cross-department convergence
Community engagement and participatory learning
Transparent governance mechanisms
The initiative aims to build 20 lakh tribal grassroots functionaries and village-level change leaders to strengthen service delivery in tribal areas, aligned with PM JANMAN and PM JUGA.
Regional Process Labs use a cascading training model where State Master Trainers lead State Process Labs, which train District Master Trainers. The first lab launched in Bengaluru in July 2025, with seven labs planned by August 2025.
Livelihood and Entrepreneurship
PM Janjatiya Vikas Mission: Supporting Tribal Livelihood
The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PM JVM), launched in 2021 as India's flagship tribal livelihood scheme, operates through Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) to promote tribal entrepreneurship and forest-based livelihoods with 100 percent central funding.
TRIFED organized 79 artisan melas and 50 exhibitions, with promotional expenditure growing from Rs. 145 lakh to Rs. 289 lakh over 2022-25.
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras: Supporting Tribal Entrepreneurship
Van Dhan Yojana: Each VDVK cluster comprises 15 tribal self-help groups with 300 beneficiaries. The centrally-funded initiative provides Rs. 15 lakh per cluster, benefiting 11.83 lakh tribal individuals with Rs. 587 crore in total funding.
Key achievements are:
4,661 VDVKs sanctioned
12.80 lakh beneficiaries
VDVKs have realized a combined sale of around Rs. 129.86 crore till date
Tribal Entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs organized Dharti Aaba TribePreneurs in April 2025, bringing together 45 tribal startups to showcase innovations and network with investors and startup leaders.
Two startups received national recognition from Union Minister Piyush Goyal:
OurGuest Travels (Sikkim) won the Direct-to-Consumer Award as Northeast India's first Online Travel Aggregator
Ngurie Organic received the AgriTech Award for sustainable agriculture work
The ministry established a Rs. 50 crore Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes and partnered with premier institutions including IIMs, IITs, IFCI, and META.
NSTFDC
The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, provides affordable loans to Scheduled Tribe members for income generation and entrepreneurship activities. Over the past five years (2020-25), NSTFDC has disbursed Rs. 16,650 crore in loans.
TRIFED
TRIFED, the government's tribal marketing agency, operates 117 retail outlets and lists over 13,000 tribal products on e-commerce platforms, helping over 200 tribal communities reach customers. TRIFED has procured Rs. 97.18 crore worth of products from tribal artisans and self-help groups over five years, while promoting exports through international trade fairs and diplomatic partnerships.
The financial assistance provided to TRIFED in the last five years is given below:
Education and Health
Providing universal access to quality education is key to national development, as it promotes equity, economic growth, and scientific and technological progress.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) provide quality education to tribal children, supporting their health and development. Currently, 1.38 lakh students study in 479 operational schools, with plans to establish 728 schools for 3.5 lakh students.
EMRS funding has grown from Rs. 922.39 crore in 2020-21 to Rs. 4,053.87 crore in 2024-25. The National Education Society for Tribal Students manages implementation. Over the past five years, the funds released to the NESTS, which are further allocated to the state as per the requirement for the construction and recurring costs of the schools, have risen about four-fold from Rs. 1,200 crore in 2020-21 to Rs. 4,748.92 crore in 2024-25. 9,075 faculty and staff positions have been filled out of 38,480 sanctioned posts.
Scholarship schemes
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs gives scholarships to promote higher learning among tribal children and youth. These are:
Sickle Cell Disease Elimination
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, blocking blood flow and causing pain, infections, and organ damage. The disease is more prevalent in tribal populations than the general population.
To address this challenge, the government launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission in 2023, targeting elimination by 2047 through screening 7 crore people aged 0-40 years in tribal-dominated regions.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and AIIMS, has established the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health at AIIMS Delhi and 15 Centres of Competence across 14 states for diagnosis and treatment.
Rights and Governance
Land and Forest Rights
The Forest Rights Act of 2006 (FRA) legally recognizes traditional land and forest rights of tribal communities and forest dwellers, providing safeguards against forced eviction.
As of May 2025, 25.11 lakh titles have been approved and distributed to tribal individuals and communities.
NCST
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) operates NCSTGRAMS, a grievance redress system for tribal communities across India.
In fiscal year 2025-26 (as of August 7, 2025), the system registered 1,747 cases with action taken on 1,670 cases. Since inception, the platform has handled 11,096 cases with action taken on 8,718 cases.
Grants to Voluntary Organizations
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides grants-in-aid to voluntary organizations for tribal welfare projects in education, health, and livelihoods.
Funding increased from Rs. 59.50 crore (2020-21) to Rs. 175 crore (2024-25), with approximately Rs. 1,000 crore released to about 200 non-profits over the past decade.
Cultural Preservation and Promotion
Tribal Research Institutes
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports 29 Tribal Research Institutes for preservation of tribal cultural heritage, languages, and traditional knowledge. The government allocated Rs. 265.94 crore over 2020-25 and sanctioned 10 new TRI buildings since 2014.
TRIs research and document tribal languages, traditional practices, and folk arts while developing educational materials for tribal students.
The ministry has also sanctioned 11 tribal freedom fighter museums across 10 states, with three completed. These are the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Museum in Ranchi, Raja Shankar Shah Raghunath Shah Museum in Jabalpur, and Badal Bhoi Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Chhindwara.
Promoting Tribal Cultures (Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and Aadi Mahotsav)
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is celebrated on November 15 to honor tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda and recognize tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle. In 2024, marking Munda's 150th birth anniversary, the Prime Minister launched Rs. 6,640 crore in tribal development projects.
Aadi Mahotsav is TRIFED's flagship annual National Tribal Festival that celebrates India's rich tribal heritage, culture, arts, crafts, cuisine, and commerce, serving as a platform to showcase tribal diversity and promote economic empowerment.
In February 2025 during the festival over 600 tribal artisans and 500 performing artists from more than 30 states and union territories showcased various tribal cultures and dances. Over 25 MoUs were signed with design institutes and corporate houses. TRIFED expanded beyond direct customer sales to partner with major companies like Meesho and Reliance Retail for business sales of tribal products. Key partnerships include collaborating with the National Institute of Fashion Technology to improve product designs, Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation to upgrade processing technology, and international partnerships with Torajamelo Indonesia for global market access.
Conclusion
India's tribal development represents a transformation from marginalization to empowerment, aligning with the goals of the United Nations regarding the development of indigenous peoples. With investments of Rs. 79,156 crore through PM JUGA and Rs. 24,104 crore through PM JANMAN, the government has placed tribal communities at the center of India's development agenda.
As India approaches 2047, the inclusive development of tribal communities ensures that no one is left behind in the nation's progress, embodying "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and strengthening India's social foundations.
SK/RK
References
Press Information Bureau:
English rendering of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi's address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 78th Independence Day: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2045560
Year End Review 2024: Ministry of Tribal Affairs: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2090883
DHARTI AABA JANJATIYA GRAM UTKARSH ABHIYAN (DAJGUA): https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2150185
Welfare of particularly vulnerable Tribal groups: https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1577166
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147304
WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER PM-JANMAN: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150193
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147843
Employment to Tribals: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150789
VAN DHAN VIKAS KENDRAS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147301
Odisha Hosts 4th Adi Karmayogi Regional Process Lab to Strengthen Responsive Governance and Empower Tribal Communities: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2151552
Aadi Karmayogi – A Whole-of-Nation Movement for Responsive Governance: Building a Viksit Bharat through 2 million Change Leaders: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2146975
Establishment of EMRS in Tribal-Dominated Areas: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147872
Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: CIL Commits ₹10 Cr to Strengthen EMRS in Chhattisgarh: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2145787
Socio Economic Empowerment of Scheduled Tribes: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150801
EKLAVYA SCHOOLS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150189
FACULTY IN EMRS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147323
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), signed MoU to promote inclusive education and empower tribal youth across the country: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2146509
NESTS and Tata Motors Limited Join Hands to Empower Tribal Youth with Skill-Linked Education and Employment Opportunities: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2143713
TALASH Initiative Set to Foster Holistic Excellence Among Eklavya Model Residential Schools Students: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2143712
UPSKILLING OF EMRS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147837
National Tribal Health Conclave 2025 under DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan - Advancing Holistic Healthcare for Tribal Communities: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2095264
Ensuring Land Rights for Tribal Communities: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147846
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: Celebrating Tribal Heritage: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2073246
Preserving Tribal Cultural Heritage: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147865
TRIFED enters into MoUs with Reliance Retail, HCL Foundation and Torajamelo Indonesia for entrepreneurship development of tribals
TRIFED’s Role in Tribal Development From Local Artisans to Global Markets: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2108385
TRIFED in collaborations with organizations like NIFT and HPMC aims to provide wider market access through online and offline platforms: Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2117730
DHARTI AABA TRIBEPRENEURS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147298
Tribal Startups Shine at StartupMahakumbh: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2119444
Union government to establish 440 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011): https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2117788
President’s Discretionary Grant of ₹62.40 Lakh Disbursed to 832 Meritorious EMRS Students of Class XII: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2144647#:~:text=The%20National%20Education%20Society%20for,Schools%20(EMRSs)%20across%20India.
NESTS Forges Landmark Partnership with Tata Motors and Ex-Navodayan Foundation to Empower Tribal Students For JEE/NEET Exams: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2143711
Implementation Status of PM-Janman Scheme: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2147830
Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2055995
The Rise of India’s Aspirational Districts: https://www.pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspx?NoteId=154503
PM launches Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on 2nd October 2024, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2061196
Budget Allocation under Tribal Scheme: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153517
REVIEW OF TRIFED INITIATIVES: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153501
UTILISATION OF SCHEDULED TRIBES COMPONENT FUNDS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153512
SCHEMES FOR THE WELFARE OF PVTGS: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153521
Other Sources:
Sabka Vikas: https://www.mygov.in/campaigns/sabka-vikas/
DAPST: https://stcmis.gov.in/Documents/DAPSTBooklet.pdf
Aspirational Districts Programme: https://www.niti.gov.in/aspirational-districts-programme
Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TribalAffairsIn
PMJVM Operational Guidelines: https://trifed.tribal.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-06/PMJVM%20Guidelines%2027.03.2023.pdf
Van Dhan Vikas Yojana Manipur: https://cmdashboard.mn.gov.in/departments/cm-flagships/vdvk-van-dhan-vikas-yojana-manipur/
National Education Policy: https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf
EMRS_Dalbari: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3kbaz8pvgJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes: https://ncstgrams.gov.in/public/Home.aspx
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Dashboard: https://dashboard.tribal.gov.in/
VDVK– Van Dhan Vikas yojana Manipur: https://cmdashboard.mn.gov.in/departments/cm-flagships/vdvk-van-dhan-vikas-yojana-manipur/
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) Operational Guidelines: https://trifed.tribal.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-06/PMJVM%20Guidelines%2027.03.2023.pdf
National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission: https://phd.maharashtra.gov.in/en/scheme/sickle-cell/
Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day
Click here to download PDF
(Explainer ID: 154993)
आगंतुक पटल : 7374
|
