Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda inaugurates Manthan Shivir in New Delhi, bringing together Nine Union Ministries and 18 State/UT Governments to chalk out an implementation road map for PM-JANMAN Mission

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda, inaugurated the Manthan Shivir 2023 to finalize the implementation plan of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), in New Delhi today. The mission was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15^th November 2023), from Khunti Jharkhand on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.  

The PM JANMAN Mission targets the development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) who have been left out by the schemes of various Ministries/Departments. This Mission has a financial outlay of around Rs. 24,000 crores, and focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries. The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be nodal and coordinating Ministry, whereas each of other 8 sectoral ministries and departments will implement the interventions related to them. 

The theme of the Manthan Shivir was ‘Whole of Government Approach – Reaching the Unreached Last Mile’. Senior Cabinet Ministers including Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh, MoS (Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti) Sh. Bishweswar Tudu, MoS (Tribal Affairs and Health & Family Welfare) Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar joined the plenary session to finalize the road map.

Secretaries of 9 Union Ministries, along with the Principal Secretaries of their respective departments from 18 States and UTs, presented road map of intervention related to their Ministry. The Shivir comprised of 8 sectoral workshops on Rural development, Drinking water & Sanitation, Education, Skill development, Health, Women and Child development, Power, and Tribal Livelihoods & Infrastructure. More than 600 officers from across the country participated in the brain storming sessions focused on preparing the action plan and implementing PM JANMAN in mission mode.

In his valedictory address on the occasion, Shri Arjun Munda said that PM-JANMAN presents a comprehensive picture of the government’s commitment and sensitivity towards the poor, the deprived and the oppressed of the country. He highlighted that in this Manthan Shivir, everyone is gathered to discuss the implementation and road map of PM-JANMAN and he is happy that the outcome that has emerged from today’s brainstorming will give a new direction to this Mission. The Minister expressed confidence that the coming 3 years would become exemplary in achieving the goals for bringing PVTGs in the mainstream, which could not be achieved in last 75 years.

On the occasion, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani expressed the commitment of the Government for welfare of these vulnerable groups, especially with a focus on the socio-economic development of women and children. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stated that Prime Minister believes that India will prosper and develop only when our tribal community prospers and develops. The Minister laid stress on out of the box planning for providing education and skill development to PVTGs, for providing them with a level playing field leading to their integration in the mainstream. He emphasized on the need to develop primers for tribal students in their mother tongue and ensure easy percolation of literacy and education in these deprived sections of the society. Shri Raj Kumar Singh stated that No hamlets/households would be left un-electrified. They would receive electricity through either grid or off-grid connections. The Ministers assured participation of their Ministries in full force to achieve the vision laid down by the Prime Minister for ‘Leaving No One Behind’ and making PM-JANMAN mission a grand success.

Shri Bishweswar Tudu, MoS, while addressing the issue of drinking water and sanitation, highlighted that more than 70% coverage has been achieved so far and works in remaining areas are going with speed and scale. He further stressed upon achieving the targets of PM-JANMAN. Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar highlighted the healthcare issues in tribal areas and targets set under PM-JANMAN for welfare of PVTGs. She stressed on the need to come forward in a collective and cohesive approach to ensure that “JANMAN reaches JAN JAN”. The Minister put forth a target of 100% saturation of Ayushman cards, Sickle Cell Anemia screening in the target groups.

Secretary (Tribal Affairs), Shri Vibhu Nayar, presented the broad outline of PM-JANMAN, need of the mission, implementation strategy, timelines and convergence mechanism as to involve official at the village and block level gets associated with the mission.

The event concluded with the Plenary and Valedictory Session where the Chairperson of all 8 Sectoral workshops presented the finalized Action Plan for the Implementation of the scheme in respective domains.

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NB/VM