The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 shared a statement by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami crediting the central government with taking unprecedented steps for the uplift of tribal communities across India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Context

CM Dhami stated, 'Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi ji ke netritva mein desh mein pehli baar janjatiya samaj ke utthan ke liye aitihasik kadam uthaye ja rahe hain' — translating to: 'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, historic steps are being taken for the first time in the country for the uplift of tribal society.' The statement was posted on the official CMO account alongside a video, though the specific policy or event being referenced was not named in the post.

Uttarakhand has a notable Scheduled Tribe population concentrated in Himalayan districts including Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh. The state's tribal communities have historically faced challenges around land rights, forest access, and connectivity.

Policy Backdrop

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, created in 1999, was significantly expanded after 2014 with the introduction of targeted schemes under the National Democratic Alliance government. The Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, launched in 2014, aimed at improving infrastructure, education, and livelihoods in tribal areas across states, including hill states like Uttarakhand.

The Forest Rights Act, 2006, and rules framed in 2012 provided legal recognition of land and forest rights to Scheduled Tribes, forming the foundation for subsequent central programmes. More recently, the PM JANMAN mission, introduced in 2021, brought a focused framework for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) covering housing, health, and connectivity.

Since 2014, successive Union Budgets have increased allocations under the Tribal Sub-Plan, and states have been encouraged to align annual plans with central guidelines — a pattern particularly relevant for forested and Himalayan regions such as Uttarakhand.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of tribal welfare programmes in Uttarakhand are Scheduled Tribe communities residing in remote hill districts, many of whom depend on forest resources and Van Panchayats for their livelihoods. Improved convergence between state and central schemes could mean better access to housing, health services, and economic opportunities for these groups.

Uttarakhand's own Van Panchayat system — a community-based forest governance model — has the potential to serve as a delivery channel for central tribal welfare initiatives, should the state choose to align its programmes more closely with missions such as PM JANMAN.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the state-level rollout of any tribal welfare measures announced in the 2025-26 Union Budget and how Uttarakhand plans to integrate them with existing state programmes. CM Dhami's public endorsement of the Centre's tribal agenda signals that the state government is likely to position itself as an active implementation partner in the months ahead.

As Uttarakhand approaches its next cycle of state planning, the convergence of central missions with local Van Panchayat structures and PVTG outreach will be a key indicator of whether the 'historic steps' described by the Chief Minister translate into measurable outcomes for tribal communities on the ground.