Bhubaneswar: Aiming at improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA) with a total outlay of Rs 79,156 crore (Central share Rs 56,333 crore and state share Rs 22,823 crore), a move that would benefit more than 10 lakh tribal households in 27 districts of Odisha. The programme will cover around 63,000 villages benefitting more than five crore tribal people as announced in the Union Budget for FY 2024-25. PMJUGA will cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks spread across all tribal-dominated villages across 30 states/ Union territories (UTs).
In Odisha, the initiative will cover 27 districts comprising 234 blocks having 7,667 villages. It will benefit 10,85,661 Scheduled Tribe (ST) households and 48,15,670 ST population. The campaign also aims at promoting innovative schemes like Tribal Home Stay Programme, Support for Forest Rights Holders & Sickle Cell Disease Management and others. Tribal villages covered under PMJUGA would be mapped on PM Gati Shakti Portal with the gaps identified by the department concerned. The physical and financial progress will be monitored through PM Gati Shakti platform and the best performing districts will be rewarded. The ambitious scheme envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education and livelihood through several Central schemes by convergence and outreach to ensure holistic and sustainable development of tribal areas and communities. The mission comprises 25 interventions which will be implemented by 17 line ministries.
Each ministry/department would be responsible for the implementation of programmes related to it in a time-bound manner through funds allocated to them under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes in five years. The move is necessary to achieve goals that include developing enabling infrastructure, improving village infrastructure, promoting of economic empowerment through skill development entrepreneurship promotion and enhanced livelihood. universalisation of access to good education & healthy lives and dignified ageing.