PM-PVTG Mission: All about PM Modi's big push worth Rs 24,000 cr for vulnerable tribal groups

PM Narendra Modi being welcomed by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others in Ranchi airport. (Image: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rs 24,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Mission on the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda on in Jharkhand on November 15. The mission will focus on the delivery of 11 interventions under nine ministries for the holistic development of 75 PVTGs across 18 states and Union Territories.

Announced during the budget 2023-24, the mission comes ahead of polls in the Hindi belt states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. According to the 2011 census, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have a PVTG population of around 4.1 lakh and 1.1 lakh respectively.

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Moneycontrol explains the contours of the “first-of-its-kind initiative” for vulnerable tribal groups.

Who are PVTGs?

Among various tribal groups, PVTGs are the more vulnerable groups who usually live in remote locations and are shy of contact with other communities. The estimated population of 75 PVTGs in India is around 28 lakh. According to data from the tribal affairs ministry, these marginalised groups live in 22,544 villages across 220 districts in 18 states and UTs. Most of these groups live in remote regions with little or limited facilities, such as roads, electricity, housing, drinking water, sanitation, and livelihood opportunities.

The Mission

The tribal affairs ministry plans to implement this mission over a period of three years through the convergence of the current Central government schemes. “Under the Rs 24,000-crore scheme, Rs 15,000 crore will be the Centre’s contribution and the rest will be contributed by states and UTs with PVTG population,” a senior tribal affairs ministry official has been cited in The Print.

According to the official, the states are contributing to the implementation of various central schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and PM Gram Sadak Yojana.

The ministry identified 11 interventions, such as the provision of housing, healthcare facilities, water supply, road connectivity, 4G and mobile network, electrification of houses, education, Anganwadi centres, multipurpose facility centres, and livelihood options in PVTG villages. Around 3,000 PVTG villages don’t have any mobile or 4G network, according to reports.

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Nine central government ministries will ensure the implementation of these 11 interventions. The tribal affairs ministry will be the nodal ministry. It will regularly consult other ministries, states and UTs to monitor progress, clear administrative hurdles and ensure smooth implementation of the PM-PVTG Mission.

Also, special efforts will be made to ensure the saturation of initiatives, such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, National Sickle Cell Disease Elimination Mission, TB elimination, 100 percent immunisation, PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM-POSHAN and PM Jan Dhan Yojana.