In a strong push to tribal outreach ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on November 15 launch a Rs 24,000-crore scheme aimed at holistic development of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) at a programme in Jharkhand. The PM will be on a two-day visit to Jharkhand starting November 14.

On the second day of his visit, the PM will pay homage to tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary – observed as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ since 2021.

Modi will be the first PM to visit Munda’s birthplace Ulihatu.

The PM will participate in a programme marking the celebration of the day in Khunti (Jharkhand) where he will launch the ‘PM PVTG Mission’ and ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ to ensure saturation of flagship government schemes. The launch of the ‘PM PVTG Mission’ which was announced in the budget of 2023-24 is being cited as a big step towards empowerment of these tribal groups. There are 75 PVTGs in 18 states and Union territories living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 28 lakh.

According to a PMO statement, these tribes stay in scattered, remote and inaccessible habitats, often in forest areas. The Mission plans to ensure that PVTG families and habitations have basic facilities such as road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Mission, to be implemented through the co-ordinated efforts of nine ministries, will also cover all PVTGs under PM Jan Arogya Yojana, Sickle Cell Disease Elimination, TB Elimination, 100% immunisation, and various other schemes.

The ‘Sankalp Yatra’, meanwhile, will focus on reaching out to people and create awareness, provide benefits of welfare schemes and enrolment of potential beneficiaries. The yatra will start from districts with a significant tribal population and by January 25 cover all districts across the country.

The PMO statement said, Modi will also release the 15th instalment of PM-KISAN (about Rs 18,000 crores) to more than eight crore beneficiaries and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 7,200 crore in the state across multiple sectors including rail, road, education, coal, petroleum and natural gas. Further, the achievement of 100% of railway electrification in Jharkhand will also be dedicated to the nation by the PM, it added.