For India's nomadic communities — historically among the most invisible in the welfare ledger — Uttar Pradesh has now created a dedicated institutional home. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the formation of the Uttar Pradesh Ghumantu Vikas Board on Thursday, 6 August 2026, framing it as the newest chapter in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' promise of non-discriminatory governance.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, the Chief Minister's Office posted: 'Shasan ki yojnaon ka labh bina kisi bhedbhav ke samaj ke pratyek varg tak pahunchega' — 'The benefits of government schemes will reach every section of society without any discrimination, and no one will be treated differently on the basis of caste, region or language.' The new board, the post makes clear, is the concrete expression of that pledge for the state's Ghumantu — nomadic — population.

Who the Ghumantu Vikas Board is meant to serve

Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities across Uttar Pradesh have long occupied the margins of formal welfare architecture. Denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic groups were historically criminalised under British-era legislation and, even after independence, remained largely outside the reach of land-linked entitlements, housing schemes and educational support that most settled communities access as a matter of course.

India's central and state governments have periodically attempted to address this gap through dedicated boards and commissions — but implementation has been uneven. The creation of the UP Ghumantu Vikas Board signals that Uttar Pradesh intends to give these communities a permanent institutional channel rather than ad hoc programme access.

'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' meets state-level execution

The BJP-led central government articulated the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' framework after the 2014 general elections as a governing philosophy: welfare delivery calibrated to need, not identity. CM Yogi Adityanath, who has overseen several community-specific upliftment initiatives since taking charge in 2017, is now translating that national slogan into a state-level institution specifically targeting communities that formal schemes have historically overlooked.

The move also fits a broader pattern in Uttar Pradesh — the country's most populous state — where community-specific boards have been used alongside general welfare programmes to ensure targeted outreach. The board's formal mandate, budget allocation and initial scheme portfolio are details that will emerge through state assembly proceedings and budget notifications.

A new board is only as strong as the schemes it carries — and the communities waiting for it have waited long enough.