Context: On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister of India launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand  

• The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.79,156 crores.

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)

• This scheme named after tribal icon Birsa Munda, aims to attain saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, through 25 interventions implemented by various 17 Ministries and Departments of Government of India.

• Coverage: The Abhiyan will cover around 63,843 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks spread across all tribal majority villages and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs. 

• It has been planned based on the learning and success of PM-JANMAN, which was launched by the Prime Minister on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November, 2023.

• With a budget outlay of Rs. 24,104 crores, the scheme focuses on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) population.

About PM-JANMAN

• PM-JANMAN is aimed at addressing the needs of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across India, making it the largest Central scheme targeted at tribal communities in terms of financial outlay.

• The scheme will focus on various essential facilities including:

• Housing: Approximately 4.9 lakh pucca houses will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.39 lakh per house.

• Education: Establishment of 500 hostels costing Rs 2.75 crore per unit, and setting up 2,500 Anganwadi centres.

• Connectivity: Installation of mobile towers in 3,000 villages and development of 8,000 km of road connectivity.

• Health and Nutrition: Ensuring access to healthcare through mobile medical units and wellness centres set up by the Ministry of Ayush.

• Livelihood Opportunities: Skill and vocational training initiatives by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to promote sustainable livelihoods.

• Financial Allocation and Implementation: The scheme is funded with Rs 15,336 crore from the Centre and Rs 8,768 crore from the states. It involves coordination among nine ministries to ensure effective implementation of various interventions aimed at uplifting PVTGs.

Government’s welfare outreach to ST communities

• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), established to provide quality education to ST students in residential schools, were allocated Rs 6,399 crore.

• The post-matric scholarship for ST studentsalso saw a rise in its allocation.

• PM DAKSH scheme, which is aimed at skilling people from the SC and ST communities, saw its allocation increase from Rs 92.47 crore to Rs 130 crore.

• National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, aimed at eliminating manual scavenging by replacing it with mechanised cleaning of sewers, was allocated Rs 116.94 crore

Other schemes

1. PM JanjatiyaVikas Mission (PMJVM)

2. National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SCs

Additional Information
Birsa Munda

• Birsa Munda is revered by Adivasis as Dharti Aaba (Father of the Land).

• Birsa Munda was born in 1875. He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chota Nagpur Plateau

• He converted to Christianity to join the German Mission school. However, he later decided to renounce Christianity and drop out of the School.

• Birsait Faith: He created a new religion called ‘Birsait’, which worshipped only one god.

• Given his growing influence in the tribal community, Birsait soon became the popular religion among the Mundas and Oraons. He was also given the nickname ‘Father of the Earth.

• Munda Rebellion was led by Birsa Munda.

• It was a revolt against the colonial masters and exploitative dikus (outsiders) and was aimed at establishing MundaRaj or Munda rule in this region.

• The revolt later came to be known as The Ulgulan or “the Great Tumult”.

Reason for Munda Revolt

• In 1874, the British replaced the Khuntkari systemof Munda tribals with the Zamindari

• It created the classes of zamindars (landlords) and ryots (tenants).

• It also intensified the forced labor (vethbigari) in the forested tribal areas and made tribals depend on money lenders for money.

Impact of the Munda Revolt

• The movement compelled the British to take cognizance of the plight and exploitation of tribals and bring in the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 for their protection.

• This Act restricted the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals giving Adivasis a huge relief and becoming landmark legislation for the protection of tribal rights.