Centre has focused on developing tribal human resources with a holistic approach over the last 9 years. Briefing media persons on 9-year achievements and Transformational initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi today,  Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda said that the Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in mission mode has been taken up as a focus area for the first time ever.

Giving details of the strides made in the education of tribal people, Sh Arjun Munda said that the Government is setting up 740 Eklavya Residential Model Schools(EMRS) which will serve 3.5 lakh tribal students with quality education. Over the next three years, 38,800 teachers and support staff will be recruited centrally for the 740 EMRSs. These schools will also lay emphasis on local languages to ensure that the students are not detached from their roots, he added. 

The Minister said that Tribal Affairs Ministry implements 5 scholarship schemes under which scholarship is given to more than 30 lakh students every year with an annual budget of more than Rs. 2500 cr.  These scholarships are disbursed in DBT mode to ensure transparency and timely hassle-free disbursals.

Shri Arjun Munda also said that financial and technical support to strengthen healthcare systems to provide affordable healthcare to the poor and vulnerable population in the tribal areas is being taken up under National Health Mission. The government has targeted to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047 and under the Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047, steps will be taken for awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas, and counseling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments. 

Shri Arjun Munda said that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is working to develop over 36000 villages with at least 50% tribal population and 500 STs across the country into model tribal villages under Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna to provide basic amenities to tribal villages, and under which various ministries are now required to focus implementation of their schemes in these identified villages.

TRIFED also started a new concept of organizing ‘Aadi Mahotsav' - Festival of Craft, Culture, Cuisine and Commerce in all major cities across the country in the year 2017-18, the Minister explained. Keeping in line with the mission of “Be Vocal for Local”, TRIFED organized Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi from 16th -27th February 2023 which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and became a roaring success all over. 

In another historic occasion for the tribal people,15th November has been declared as “Janjatiya Gaurav Divas” on the Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda to celebrate tribal pride and pay tribute to tribal freedom fighters, he said. 

Speaking on the Forest Rights Act Union Minster informed that 21.99 lakh Individual titles and a total of 1.08 lakh Community titles have been distributed to date.

For the development of ST communities across the country, the annual budget of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been on continuous increase. In 2023-24, a budget of Rs. 12461.88 Crores has been allocated to the Ministry which is 3 times compared to the budget in 2013-14 of Rs. 4295.94 Crore.