Context:

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has streamlined the sanctioning process for the PM-JANMAN scheme, aimed at providing essential amenities to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across India. 

·        This follows issues with the data entry process on the PM-GatiShakti portal, which caused delays in sanctioning housing projects. By allowing approval via the PM-AWAS portal, the ministry has sped up the implementation of the scheme.

About PM-JANMAN

Launched on November 15, 2023, on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, PM-JANMAN seeks to provide 100% coverage of basic amenities like housing, piped water, roads, and electricity to PVTG habitations within three years. The scheme’s total outlay is ₹24,104 crore, with ₹15,336 crore from the Centre and ₹8,768 crore from states.

Key Objectives and Targets

• Housing: The scheme targets 4.90 lakh pucca homes under the PM-AWAS component, with ₹2.39 lakh allocated per house.
• Infrastructure: 8,000 km of roads, piped water supply for all PVTG habitations, and solar street lighting will be provided.
• Health and Education: 1,000 mobile medical units and 500 hostels will be established, along with vocational education centres in 60 blocks.
• Community Development: The scheme will build 2,500 Anganwadi centres, 850 multipurpose centres, and provide electricity connections to 57,000 households.

Changes to the Sanctioning Process

Previously, data required for housing approvals, including village codes and beneficiary details, had to be uploaded to the PM-GatiShakti portal. This led to delays in project approval. The new process allows housing units to be sanctioned directly through the PM-AWAS portal, facilitating faster implementation while still allowing data updates on the GatiShakti portal.

Progress and Impact

By November 2024, approximately 3.3 lakh homes were sanctioned, with 80,000 homes completed. After the changes to the process, 1 lakh more homes have been sanctioned, pushing the total number over 4 lakh homes.

About Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PVTGs:

·        PVTGs are a group of 75 tribes, with over 40 lakh individuals, characterized by low literacy, small populations, and subsistence economies.

·        Major populations reside in states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, where they often face challenges in accessing government schemes.

Conclusion

PM-JANMAN represents a significant initiative to uplift PVTGs by addressing their housing, infrastructure, and socio-economic needs. The revised sanctioning process will ensure the scheme reaches its targets more efficiently, improving the living conditions of India’s most vulnerable tribal populations.