• UGI USER
  • May 27, 2024
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” ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY PVTGS IN ACCESSING GOVERNMENT WELFARE SCHEMES”

Syllabus:

  • GS-3-Welfare schemes for tribals and their implementation , issues and way forward.

Focus :

  • The article focuses on the challenges faced by India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in accessing the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) housing scheme. It highlights issues with the registration process, mobile app usability, data mismatches, and recommends measures to improve inclusivity and effectiveness.
Source-TH

Introduction

  • India is home to numerous Adivasi groups, with 75 identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across various states.
  • Official data indicates PVTGs comprise around 14.6 lakh households, residing in remote, inaccessible areas.
  • These tribes face significant socio-economic challenges, including reliance on primitive livelihood methods, low literacy rates, economic backwardness, and stagnant populations.

Government Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission

  • Launched in 2023-24 to improve socio-economic conditions of PVTGs.
  • Aims to address the backwardness of PVTGs through targeted interventions.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN)

Launched in November 2023 with a budget of ₹24,000 crore.

Seeks to provide essential services like safe housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation through 11 critical interventions.

PM-JANMAN Housing Scheme

Objective and Reach

Aims to reach 4.90 lakh PVTG households by 2026.

Ensures every PVTG household has access to secure and habitable housing.

Financial Assistance

  • Households receive ₹2.39 lakh each in three instalments for housing construction.

Challenges in Registration

Mobile App Issues

  • The ‘Awaas+’ app provided for registration poses several challenges.
  • Records geographical location, household profiles, and bank account details.

Data Mismatch

Widespread deletion of MGNREGA workers’ records affects PVTG eligibility.

Discrepancies between app data and MGNREGA jobcards lead to confusion.

Name and Aadhaar Confusion

The app requires Aadhaar names, leading to issues if Aadhaar is absent.

Default ‘ST’ category in the app fails to differentiate PVTGs, causing registration errors.

Banking Issues

  • App’s dropdown lists for banks are overly complex, adding to registration difficulties.
  • Exclusion of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) despite its importance for financial inclusion.
Other Important schemes for tribal welfare :

1.PM Van Dhan Yojana: Key Points

  • Objective: The PM Van Dhan Yojana aims to enhance the income of tribal communities by harnessing forest resources and promoting value addition of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs).
  • Implementation: Launched in 2018, the scheme is implemented by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): The scheme establishes VDVKs, which are clusters of tribal Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Each VDVK typically comprises 15 SHGs, involving about 300 beneficiaries.
  • Training and Capacity Building: The scheme provides training for tribal members in sustainable harvesting, processing, packaging, and marketing of NTFPs, ensuring they gain necessary skills for entrepreneurship.

2.Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) -It aim to provide quality education to tribal students (Scheduled Tribes) in remote areas, ensuring their all-round development and preparing them for higher education and competitive exams.

On-ground Issues

Certifications and Sarpanches

  • PVTGs need certification from local authorities, who may act against their interests.
  • Non-PVTG sarpanches/mukhiyas sometimes hinder PVTG registrations.

Geo-tagging Problems

  • Network issues complicate the geo-tagging process, essential for identifying construction sites.

Recommendations for Improvement

Streamlining the Registration Process

  • Simplify the app interface and correct discrepancies in village data and job cards.
  • Include IPPB in the list of banks to enhance financial inclusion.

Reinstating Deleted Job cards

  • Proactive measures to reinstate deleted MGNREGA jobcards for PVTGs.

Community Engagement

  • Involve gram sabhas in the registration process to ensure accurate data collection.
  • Facilitate better communication between PVTGs and frontline officials.
Constitutional Provisions for Tribals in India

  • Article 15(4): Empowers the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, including Scheduled Tribes.
  • Article 16(4): Allows for reservation in employment for Scheduled Tribes in state services.
  • Article 46: Directs the state to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
  • Article 244: Provides for the administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas through the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, ensuring self-governance and autonomy.
  • Article 275(1): Grants the Union Government the power to provide special grants-in-aid to states for the development of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Areas.
  • Article 330: Reserves seats for Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
  • Article 332: Reserves seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
  • Article 335: States that the claims of Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistent with the maintenance of efficiency in administration, in making appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.
  • Article 338A: Establishes the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution.
  • Fifth and Sixth Schedules: Provide for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas, with provisions for autonomy and self-governance through District and Regional Councils.

Conclusion

  • Despite numerous initiatives, PVTGs continue to face significant barriers to accessing welfare schemes.
  • Addressing these challenges through targeted improvements can transform the lives of PVTGs, aligning with India’s growth story.
  • As B.D. Sharma aptly described, the history of broken promises can be altered with the right approach and dedicated efforts towards inclusivity and accessibility.

Source:The Hindu

Associated Article

https://universalinstitutions.com/janman-scheme-amid-sankalp-yatra/

 

Mains Practice Question :

GS-3

“Discuss the challenges faced by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in accessing government welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). What measures can be taken to ensure these groups benefit from such initiatives? (250 words)