Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday, 19 July 2026 reaffirmed the central government's commitment to tribal welfare, stating that the Narendra Modi-led administration works not out of charity but with 'respect, sensitivity and accountability' towards tribal communities. The minister highlighted the ₹24,000 crore PM-JANMAN scheme as the flagship vehicle for delivering basic services to the country's most vulnerable tribal groups.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, Kishan Reddy wrote that the government is working with 'सम्मान, संवेदनशीलता और उत्तरदायित्व' ('respect, sensitivity and responsibility') — not with a sense of charity or pity — towards tribal society. He specifically cited the PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) scheme as the primary instrument for accelerating infrastructure development in villages of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across India.

The minister listed a range of interventions being delivered under the scheme: establishment of schools and health centres, road connectivity, new livelihood opportunities, and targeted health campaigns including the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission — all aimed at reaching tribal families at the 'last mile'.

Policy Backdrop

The PM-JANMAN scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 with a total outlay of ₹24,000 crore. It specifically targets 75 PVTGs — communities identified as the most socially and economically marginalised among Scheduled Tribes — with a convergence model that draws on multiple central ministries to plug gaps in housing, roads, drinking water, education and healthcare.

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in July 2023, runs in parallel with a stated goal of eradicating the disease by 2047. Tribal districts carry a disproportionately high burden of sickle cell disease, making the mission directly relevant to PVTG welfare. Together, these two initiatives represent a significant expansion of the Centre's dedicated tribal development architecture since 2014, building on earlier frameworks such as the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana.

Stakeholders and Impact

PVTG communities, spread across states including Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and others, are the direct beneficiaries of PM-JANMAN. These groups have historically been excluded from mainstream development on account of geographic isolation, small population sizes and distinct socio-cultural practices.

The scheme's convergence design means that departments handling roads, schools, health and livelihoods are expected to coordinate delivery to identified PVTG habitations. Civil society organisations working on tribal rights have broadly welcomed the dedicated outlay, while also calling for transparent, village-level progress tracking to ensure funds translate into on-ground outcomes.

What's Next

State-wise physical and financial progress reports under PM-JANMAN, along with coverage data from the Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, are expected to be presented at the next parliamentary session or during a tribal welfare ministry review. Kishan Reddy's statement signals that the BJP intends to keep tribal welfare — particularly the government's shift from a patronage model to a rights-and-dignity framework — as a central political and policy narrative ahead of forthcoming state elections in tribal-heavy constituencies. The effectiveness of last-mile delivery will ultimately determine whether the scheme's ambitious outlay translates into measurable improvement in PVTG living standards.