26 Jul PM JUGA: A Mission for Tribal Renaissance and Inclusive Rural Development
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the PM JUGA: A Mission for Tribal Renaissance and Inclusive Rural Development
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-1- Culture and History- PM JUGA: A Mission for Tribal Renaissance and Inclusive Rural Development
FOR PRELIMS
What is PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA)?
FOR MAINS
What are the key objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA)?
Why in the News?
Background and Rationale
1. Historical Neglect: Tribal regions have remained socio-economically backwards due to centuries of marginalisation, inadequate access to resources, and lack of focused policy implementation.
2. Geographical Isolation: Many tribal villages are located in remote and forested areas, limiting access to essential services such as healthcare, education, roads, and markets.
3. Poor Infrastructure: Basic infrastructure like housing, electricity, sanitation, and clean water remains underdeveloped in large parts of tribal India.
4. High Multidimensional Poverty: Tribal communities disproportionately suffer from poverty, malnutrition, low literacy, and poor health indicators, as confirmed by national surveys like NFHS and NITI Aayog’s MPI.
5. PM’s 2021 Vision Statement: In his Independence Day speech (2021), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that tribal and coastal regions will become new engines of national development.
6. Need for Convergent Approach: Fragmented schemes had limited impact; hence, a unified, mission-mode approach involving multiple ministries became essential for integrated tribal development.
7. Building on PM JANMAN: PM JUGA expands upon the PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) launched in 2023, which focused specifically on PVTGs, by widening the scope to all Scheduled Tribes.
8. Alignment with SDGs and Viksit Bharat@2047: The mission aligns with the UN SDGs and India’s vision of inclusive growth, ensuring no tribal community is left behind in the journey toward a developed India.
Key Features of PM JUGA
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Launched | October 2, 2024 (Hazaribagh, Jharkhand) |
| Total Budget | ₹79,156 crore |
| • Centre: ₹56,333 crore | |
| • States: ₹22,823 crore | |
| Coverage | 63,000 villages across 549 districts (~71% of India’s land area) |
| Target Beneficiaries | 5 crore tribal citizens in tribal-majority and Aspirational District villages |
| Eligibility Criteria | Villages with: |
| • ≥500 residents and >50% ST population | |
| • Or, ≥50 ST residents in Aspirational Districts | |
| Implementing Ministries | 17 Union Ministries working in convergence |
| Official Alternate Name | Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan |
Eligibility Criteria for Villages
| Category | Eligibility Condition |
|---|---|
| General Villages | Population >500 and >50% Scheduled Tribe (ST) residents |
| Aspirational Districts | Villages with at least 50 Scheduled Tribe (ST) residents |
Major Components and Interventions
| Component | Key Interventions |
|---|---|
| A. Housing & Infrastructure | – 20 lakh pucca houses under PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) – 25,000 km roads under PM Gram Sadak Yojana |
| B. Energy & Clean Cooking | – 2.35 lakh tribal households electrified – 25 lakh LPG connections under PM Ujjwala Yojana |
| C. Education | – Upgradation of Ashram schools and hostels – 1,000 new tribal hostels under Samagra Shiksha |
| D. Health & Nutrition | – 1,000 mobile medical units under Ayushman Bharat Health Infra Mission – 8,000 Anganwadis (2,000 new + 6,000 upgraded) – 700 Poshan Vatikas by Ministry of AYUSH |
| E. Water & Sanitation | – Tap water in all eligible villages via Jal Jeevan Mission – Special focus on 5,000 remote hamlets (<20 tribal households) |
| F. Connectivity & Digital Inclusion | – High-speed broadband to 5,000 villages via BharatNet and USOF – Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UPI integration under Digital India |
| G. Livelihood & Employment | – Fishery support to 10,000 groups & 1 lakh individuals under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana – Livestock support to 8,500 individuals/groups under National Livestock Mission – 1,000 tribal homestays under Swadesh Darshan – Capacity building of 1,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) |
| H. Market Linkages & Health | – Tribal marketing centres – Sickle cell treatment units – Incentives for high-performing tribal districts |
Governance Reforms and Empowerment
| Reform Area | Key Measures |
|---|---|
| Local Governance Strengthening | – Capacity-building for Gram Sabhas and local institutions by Ministry of Panchayati Raj |
| Legal Empowerment | – Faster processing of Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims |
| Democratic Empowerment | – Strengthening of decentralised tribal governance and community participation |
Significance of PM JUGA
1. Comprehensive Development Mission: First-ever large-scale tribal development initiative addressing infrastructure, education, healthcare, livelihood, digital inclusion, and governance in an integrated manner.
2. Fulfils National Vision: Embodies the spirit of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”, ensuring inclusive and equitable growth.
3. Mainstreaming with Identity Preservation: Aims to integrate tribal communities into national progress while preserving their distinct culture, traditions, and way of life.
4. Model of Cooperative Federalism: Demonstrates effective Centre-State collaboration, with financial and administrative responsibilities shared for greater impact.
5. Data-Driven and Mission-Mode Implementation: Uses real-time data and a convergent, multi-ministerial approach for efficient delivery and monitoring.
6. Bridges the Rural-Tribal Divide: Reduces regional disparities by targeting remote and neglected tribal areas with focused investments.
7. Supports Viksit Bharat @2047 Goals: Contributes to the long-term vision of a developed, inclusive, and empowered India by 2047.
8. Sustainable and Rights-Based Development: Anchored in principles of sustainability, community empowerment, and recognition of land and forest rights under the FRA.
Governance Reforms and Empowerment
1. Capacity Building of Gram Sabhas: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is conducting targeted training and awareness programs to strengthen Gram Sabhas in tribal areas, promoting grassroots participation.
2. FRA Claim Processing Accelerated: Special focus on expediting the recognition and processing of Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims, ensuring legal entitlement over land and forest resources for tribal communities.
3. Strengthening Local Governance: Enhancing the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and traditional tribal bodies in decision-making and development planning.
4. Democratic Empowerment of Tribal Communities: Promoting inclusive representation and leadership from tribal communities in village-level governance structures.
5. Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms: Integration of e-governance tools, grievance redressal systems, and digital tracking for transparent scheme implementation.
6. Community-led Planning and Monitoring: Encouraging people’s participation in planning, budgeting, and monitoring, making governance more responsive and need-based.
7. Recognition of Customary Institutions: Supporting and formalising the role of tribal customary and traditional governance systems, aligning them with modern democratic structures for synergy.
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA) marks a transformative shift in India’s tribal development strategy — from fragmented welfare schemes to an integrated, mission-mode approach. By converging the efforts of 17 ministries and focusing on over 63,000 villages, the programme seeks not just to deliver basic services, but to empower tribal communities as equal stakeholders in India’s growth story. It ensures infrastructure development, social justice, economic empowerment, and cultural preservation, all within a rights-based and participatory framework.
Prelims Questions
Q. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA), consider the following statements:
1. It was launched in 2024 and covers only the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
2. It aims to provide housing, electricity, education, and livelihood in tribal-majority villages.
3. It is implemented solely by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2 and 3 only
Answer: B
Mains Questions
Q. The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA) represents a paradigm shift in India’s tribal policy from welfare to empowerment. Critically analyse the key features, significance, and challenges of this mission in ensuring inclusive and sustainable tribal development.
(250 words, 15 marks)
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