PM Modi’s Bold Dharti Aaba Abhiyan Empowers Millions
Hazaribagh, Jharkhand – On 2nd October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a landmark initiative for the upliftment of tribal communities, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). The launch took place in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. During his one-day visit, PM Modi also laid the foundation stones for various developmental projects and inaugurated key educational institutions, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). With a staggering budget outlay of Rs. 79,156 crores, the scheme is expected to benefit millions of people across the country, with a special focus on tribal communities.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: An Overview
The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, spearheaded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims to bridge the gaps in essential social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. The scheme envisions the holistic development of tribal villages and communities by implementing 25 intervention schemes across multiple sectors. A total of 17 ministries are collaborating on this initiative to ensure sustainable progress for more than 63,000 tribal villages.
Key Details of the Abhiyan:
- Total Budget: Rs. 79,156 crores (Central Share: Rs. 56,333 crores; State Share: Rs. 22,823 crores).
- Target Areas: The scheme covers around 63,843 villages in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks across 30 States and Union Territories (UTs).
- Population Benefited: More than 5 crore tribal people are expected to benefit from this initiative.
- Duration: Over the next five years, the government aims to achieve saturation of critical gaps in infrastructure and services in tribal areas.
Vision and Objectives of the Abhiyan
The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is designed to uplift tribal communities by addressing their needs through focused intervention programs. The mission consists of three major goals:
1. Developing Enabling Infrastructure
The government seeks to provide basic amenities like housing, clean drinking water, road connectivity, and healthcare services. The following schemes will be implemented to ensure this goal:
- Housing: Eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST) households will be provided with pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-Gramin).
- Water and Electricity: Access to clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission and electricity under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) will be ensured for every eligible ST household.
- Health Facilities: Tribal households will be provided Ayushman Bharat health cards for better access to healthcare.
2. Economic Empowerment and Skill Development
To promote economic independence, the scheme emphasizes skill development and entrepreneurship. Key interventions under this goal include:
- Skill Training: ST boys and girls will receive training under the Skill India Mission and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), with access to long-term skill courses post 10th and 12th grade.
- Marketing Support: Tribal communities will be supported through Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMC), tourist home stays, and agricultural, animal husbandry, and fishery assistance for Forest Rights Act (FRA) Patta holders.
3. Universal Access to Quality Education
Education is a primary focus under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. The government aims to bring the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for tribal children up to national levels. The following measures will be taken:
- School Hostels: Tribal hostels will be set up at district and block levels to provide accommodation for students.
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools: PM Modi inaugurated 40 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and laid the foundation for 25 more during his visit, with a total investment of Rs. 2,834 crores.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
The Eklavya Model Residential Schools were introduced in 1997-98 to provide quality education to tribal children in remote areas. The initiative has expanded significantly, and from 2022, every block with a population of 50% or more ST individuals and at least 20,000 tribal people will have an EMRS.
Key Features of EMRS:
- Student Capacity: Each school will accommodate 480 students from Class VI to XII.
- Target by 2026: The government aims to make 728 EMRS functional by 2026, catering to 3.5 lakh tribal students across the country.
- Budget Allocation: Rs. 28,919.72 crores have been allocated for the establishment and functioning of these schools between 2021-26.
First Anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN)
Prime Minister Modi also announced the upcoming celebration of the first anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) on 15th November 2024, which coincides with Janjati Gaurav Diwas, celebrated in honor of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. Launched on 15th November 2023 in Khunti, Jharkhand, PM-JANMAN focuses on empowering Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Key Highlights of PM-JANMAN:
- Budget: The total outlay for PM-JANMAN is Rs. 24,104 crores, with Rs. 15,336 crores as the Central share and Rs. 8,768 crores as the State share.
- Duration: The scheme is designed to be implemented over three years, focusing on improving basic facilities like safe housing, clean water, sanitation, road connectivity, education, and health for PVTGs.
- Progress: In just 10 months, projects worth Rs. 10,000 crores have been sanctioned, and several key infrastructures, such as roads, Anganwadis, multi-purpose centers, and school hostels, have been initiated.
Other Projects Launched by PM Modi
In addition to the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and EMRS, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for various other projects under the PM-JANMAN scheme. These include:
- Road Construction: Over 1,387 km of roads will be built to improve connectivity in tribal areas.
- Anganwadis: 120 Anganwadi centers will be constructed to support child development in these communities.
- Multi-Purpose Centers: 250 multi-purpose centers are planned to provide community spaces for various developmental activities.
- School Hostels: Ten new hostels for tribal students will be constructed to support their educational journey.
Vision for the Future
The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is a transformative initiative that aims to ensure that tribal areas in India are not left behind in the country’s developmental journey. The mission, through coordinated efforts from various ministries, will cover every aspect of life, from education and healthcare to economic empowerment. By focusing on the most vulnerable sections of society, especially the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, the government is committed to improving the living standards of millions of tribal people across the country.
This initiative aligns with the government’s larger vision of inclusive development, leaving no one behind as India progresses. The holistic approach, spanning multiple sectors, ensures that the benefits reach the grassroots level, fostering sustainable and long-lasting growth for the tribal communities.
FAQs:
1. What is the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)?
Answer:
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is a comprehensive development scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd October 2024. The scheme aims to bridge gaps in infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods in tribal-majority areas across India, impacting more than 63,843 villages in 30 states and union territories.
2. What is the total budget outlay for the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan?
Answer:
The total budget outlay for the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is Rs 79,156 crore, with the central government contributing Rs 56,333 crore and the state governments providing Rs 22,823 crore.
3. How many villages and districts will the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan cover?
Answer:
The scheme will cover 63,843 villages in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks across 30 states and union territories, focusing on tribal-majority areas.
4. What are the primary goals of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan?
Answer:
The key goals include:
- Providing pucca housing with basic amenities to eligible tribal households.
- Improving village infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity, and healthcare.
- Promoting skill development and livelihood opportunities.
- Ensuring universal access to quality education and health services in tribal areas.
5. What is the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN)?
Answer:
Launched in 2023, PM-JANMAN is a government initiative aimed at improving the lives of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) by providing them with sustainable livelihoods, better housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
6. What is the significance of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in the scheme?
Answer:
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) provide quality education to tribal children. As part of the scheme, PM Modi inaugurated 40 new EMRS and laid the foundation for 25 more. These schools aim to serve children from class VI to XII in tribal-dominated blocks, ensuring access to quality education.
7. How many tribal people are expected to benefit from the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan?
Answer:
More than 5 crore tribal people are expected to benefit from the various initiatives under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
8. What are some specific projects inaugurated under PM-JANMAN during PM Modi’s visit to Jharkhand in October 2024?
Answer:
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for several projects under PM-JANMAN, including 1,387 km of road construction, 120 Anganwadis, 250 multipurpose centers, and 10 school hostels.
9. What are the key interventions under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan?
Answer:
The Abhiyan includes 25 key interventions implemented by 17 ministries, focusing on areas like infrastructure development, healthcare, education, skill training, and livelihood promotion.
10. Why is 15th November significant for the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN)?
Answer:
15th November is celebrated as Janjati Gaurav Diwas, which commemorates the birthday of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. On 15th November 2023, PM Modi launched the PM-JANMAN scheme, and the first anniversary of the scheme will be celebrated on 15th November 2024.
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