Government in Budget 2023-24 has made announcement of Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission. The mission is aimed to improve socio-economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) by saturating PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The mission envisages availability of Rs.15,000 crore from the Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes, for activities to be undertaken in the next three years under the Mission.
Field visits have been carried out by Officers of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and its attached office to the PVTG areas and as per the report submitted by the Officers it has been observed that PVTG habitations need focused approach for improvement in Infrastructure facilities including road and internet connectivity etc. There is also need for strengthening health and Education facilities to improve school drop out rate and livelihood opportunities.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the Nodal Ministry for overall policy planning and coordination of programs for development of STs. Besides, 42 Central Ministries / Departments have been mandated by NITI Aayog for earmarking certain percentage of their total Scheme allocation every year for tribal development including education, health and economic empowerment. The details of the schemes are available in public domain at https://stcmis.gov.in. Further, Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing following schemes/programmes for socio-economic development and participation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) from across the country including STs from Odisha:-
i. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)
ii. Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution
iii. Development of PVTGs
iv. Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations Working for Welfare of STs
v. Pre-Matric Scholarship
vi. Post Matric Scholarship
vii. National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students
viii. National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) to the ST Students for Studies Abroad
ix. Pradhan Mantri Janajatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)
x. Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS)
xi. Venture Capital Funds for STs
xii. Support to TRIs
This reply was given by Minister of Sate for Tribal Affairs Shri Bishweswar Tudu in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
NB/SK
