New Delhi, June 12: The government’s Antyodaya vision has played a transformative role in integrating India’s most deprived and marginalised communities into the mainstream development framework, according to an official factsheet released on Friday.
The report highlights that sustained, mission-driven interventions under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) have significantly improved access to basic infrastructure and essential services for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across the country.
Launched in November 2023 with an outlay of ₹24,104 crore, PM JANMAN targets 75 PVTG communities across 18 states and one Union Territory. The programme is being implemented through a coordinated, multi-ministerial approach covering 11 critical interventions designed to bridge long-standing development gaps.
These interventions include pucca housing, all-weather road connectivity, piped drinking water supply, household electrification, mobile medical units, Anganwadi centres, hostels, mobile connectivity infrastructure, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, multipurpose centres, and vocational skill development initiatives.
According to the factsheet, the programme has delivered measurable outcomes on the ground, including the completion of 7.8 lakh pucca houses in tribal regions, expanded access to clean drinking water in over 28,303 villages, and electrification support to nearly 5.89 lakh tribal households.
Officials noted that these interventions are directly improving living standards by addressing fundamental gaps in housing, water security, connectivity, and healthcare access in remote and historically underserved areas.
A major focus of the initiative has also been education and human capital development. The expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools has strengthened access to quality education in tribal-dominated regions. As of 2026, more than 1.56 lakh students are enrolled across 499 operational schools, while 323 additional schools are under construction, further expanding the reach of structured residential education.
The factsheet further underscores that tribal regions, aspirational districts, and remote habitations have become central to national development planning, supported by improved convergence among ministries and enhanced last-mile delivery mechanisms.
Alongside PM JANMAN, the government’s PM-AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana) continues to focus on the integrated development of Scheduled Caste-majority villages through infrastructure creation, skill development, and livelihood support.
Under its Adarsh Gram component, PM-AJAY adopts an area-based development approach covering 47,334 villages across 597 districts, reaching over 4 crore citizens and 83 lakh households. The programme emphasizes village development planning, gap identification, and convergence of existing welfare schemes to ensure targeted intervention.
More than 25,000 villages have already completed infrastructure assessments, enabling systematic identification of gaps in critical sectors such as roads, drinking water, sanitation, education, and rural connectivity.
The government also highlighted a growing emphasis on youth engagement, skill development, and self-help group participation, aimed at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and strengthening long-term economic inclusion in rural and tribal regions.
The Antyodaya approach, the factsheet stated, continues to guide India’s development philosophy—ensuring that the most marginalised communities are placed at the centre of the country’s growth journey.