Amid the poll season in the Hindi belt states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a new development mission aimed at particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) on November 15.
According to officials, this mission pegged at Rs 24,000 crore will provide amenities, road and telecom connectivity, and access to education, health care and nutrition to the marginalised tribes. Modi will launch the mission at the birthplace of the erstwhile tribal leader Birsa Munda in Jharkhand's Ulihatu. His visit will coincide with Munda's birth anniversary, celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and statehood day.
India’s 705 Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities make up 8.6 percent of the country’s population. According to the Hindustan Times, there are around 2.8 million PVTGs spread across 22,544 villages in 18 states and Union territories. Most of these tribals live in remote regions with little or limited facilities such as roads, electricity, housing, drinking water, sanitation and livelihood opportunities. The mission is expected to boost the BJP's outreach towards the tribal communities, considered an important electoral group in central Indian states.
In his election rallies across poll-bound states, PM Modi has been seen reaching out to the population several times. At the beginning of the month, he credited tribal people for Lord Ram's hallowed divine status. He had said while the BJP worshipped tribals, the Congress didn't care for their welfare.
In his Barwani address, the PM highlighted the significance of November 15. He emphasised the pride of the Centre in declaring Munda’s birthday as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. “The tribal community, which was always neglected by the Congress party, was honoured and given social justice by the BJP,” he had said.
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Modi had also reminded voters that a separate Ministry for Tribal Affairs was set up during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In his Betul rally on November 14, he said, “For years, Congress kept collecting votes of tribals, they got votes by telling lies. Congress kept tribals deprived of facilities like roads, electricity, water, schools, and hospitals... BJP gives importance to the interest of tribals and that's why a tribal daughter Droupadi Murmu is in the position of President and is leading the country.”
Also read: Why the battle in MP and Rajasthan looks close, but not in Chhattisgarh
In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 31 of the 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). It might be hoping to repeat that success, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.
According to reports, these three States account for nearly 31 percent of the country’s STs. In Chhattisgarh, STs account for 30.6 percent of the total population, in Madhya Pradesh they are 21.1 percent, and in Rajasthan 13.5 percent.
Referring to the new mission, SS Jodka, professor of sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Hindustan Times that the BJP is attempting to strike a balance between the consolidation of Hindu vote bank and creation of a new vote bank of beneficiaries or labharthis.
“The presence of RSS cadre on the ground makes the delivery of schemes more effective and personalised. Which in turn creates a bond between the beneficiaries and the party. Since these schemes are not mediated through states or local intermediaries, the beneficiaries identify with the party and its supremo,” he told the newspaper.
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