To improve socio-economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil PM PVTG Development Mission on November 15 with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore over the next few years, a government source said.
In the budget of 2023-24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced launch of PM PVTG Development Mission with an estimated budget outlay of Rs 15,000 crore over three years. The allocation has now been enhanced to Rs 24,000 crore.
This scheme will saturate 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.
There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States and Union Territories living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 2.8 million.
These tribes stay in scattered, remote & inaccessible habitations, often in forest areas and hence a mission is planned to saturate PVTG families and habitations with 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 will be implemented through convergence of 11 interventions of 9 Ministries. For instance, under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Aawas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission etc. Some scheme norms will be relaxed to cover these remote habitations,” the source said.
In addition, separately, saturation will be ensured for Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna, sickle cell disease elimination, TB elimination, 100% immunisation, PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan and PM Jan Dhan Yojana, among others, the source added.