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

Policy Update
Asmeet Kaur

The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) represents a historic commitment to bring the most disadvantaged parts of its indigenous population, specifically those belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), out of decades of underdevelopment. PM-JANMAN is a three-year mission with a multidimensional approach, committed to bringing basic needs and opportunities to the most remote areas of the country, thus closing an equity gap that has persisted for decades.

Background

PM-JANMAN is premised on the recognition of the enormous vulnerability of the PVTGs. These groups were referred to as “Primitive Tribal Groups” by the Dhebar Commission in a report (1960-61), and were obviously renamed ‘Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups’ in 2006, however, both terms refer the groups with the least favorable socio-economic developmental indicators.

Characteristics of PVTGs: Presently, PVTGs are 75 tribal groups, identified across 18 states and 1 UT:

At a pre-agricultural level of societal life (livelihood based on hunting and gathering, and the system of shifting cultivation).
Exhibit no or negative population numbers or very low populations,
Very low levels of literacy,
Social isolation and physiological isolation.

Even with overall tribal welfare programs, these 75 groups frequently remained outside the development network due to their remote habitat, dispersed populations, and identity factors. Their dependence on forest use for subsistence and extreme lack of infrastructure (housing, roads, electricity, health, education) warranted a focused mission-mode intervention. The initiative started in the Union Budget 2023-24 with the introduction of the Pradhan Mantri PVTGs Development Mission, leading to PM-JANMAN launch on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (November 15, 2023).

Functioning:

A Mission of Convergence, PM-JANMAN is not an individual scheme but rather a mission aimed at saturating primary services in PVTG habitations over the period of 2023-24 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of over ₹ 24,104 Crore. Its operational model is characterized by unprecedented inter-ministerial collaboration.

Convergence Model: The mission is implemented through 11 key interventions under the oversight of nine line ministries while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs acts as the nodal ministry. This model provides coverage for the same PVTG household’s multiple primary needs at the same time.

Ministry/Department	Critical Intervention (Examples)	Target (Illustrative)
M/o Rural Development	Provision of pucca houses (under PMAY-G norms) and connecting roads (under PMGSY norms).	4.90 lakh houses; 8,000 km of roads.
M/o Jal Shakti	Provision of Piped Water Supply (PWS).	18,385 villages/habitations.
M/o Health & Family Welfare	Setting up of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs).	694 MMUs.
M/o Power / M/o New & Renewable Energy	Electrification of unelectrified households, including a New Solar Power Scheme for off-grid areas.	1.43 lakh households.
M/o Skill Development & Entrepreneurship	Livelihood generation through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).	501 VDVKs.

The primary function is to change the existing scheme guidelines to allow for eligibility and increased unit costs when warranted, to specifically address the difficult terrain and unique requirements of the PVTGs. The overall success of the mission will depend on real time monitoring of the schemes using digital technologies, such as the PM Gati Shakti portal.

Performance

The mission exhibited relay and initiation, particularly in the foundational welfare domains.

Key Achievements (as of July 2025): The coordination of work across departments has resulted in quick progress in remote places:

Housing and Water: Approximately 1.36 lakh houses have been accomplished out of a sanctioned target, illustrating some solid progress with respect to shelters. Furthermore, piped water supply across 7,406 villages was established by July 2025- a major push towards water security and sanitation.
Health and Education: All 694 operational Mobile Medical Units have been commissioned and help provide last mile healthcare. Over 2,000 Anganwadi Centres were fully operational to address nutrition and childhood development.
Connectivity and Energy: On the energy front, the scheme significantly covered an increased number of unelectrified households (1.2 lakh), who have reached electricity through grid and off-grid solar (in many cases). Additionally, mobile towers have been established across 2,516 habitations, helping eliminate barriers to connectivity.

Despite the programme’s speedy pace, completing a work programme showcases the difficult task of working with PVTGs. In the case of housing, the frustrated timeline for development, related to initial sanctioning, was slowed due to work verification on the ground.

Impact

The effects of PM-JANMAN are multi-faceted and it promises a major transformation in the socio-economic condition of PVTGs.

Improvement in Human Development Index: The mission addresses malnutrition, health care, and infant mortality, with tangible gains to health and quality of life through providing pucca houses, access to clean drinking water, and healthcare in the form of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs).
Improved Connectivity and Access: The provision of roads and mobile connectivity is revolutionary. It eliminates physical marginalisation, allows for quicker emergency responses (health), and connects communities to the mainstream market and digital educational opportunities.
Livelihood Security: The PM-JANMAN supports the formation of Village Development and Value Addition Groups (VDVKs) and skilling; this shifts communities from uncertain subsistence work to a more structured added value economy. This will lead to entrepreneurship especially for women in processing Minor Forest Produce (MFP), enhancing income and preventing distress migration.
Cultural Continuity: The establishment of Multipurpose Community Centres (MPCs) acts as a gathering place for the community, promoting culture but also serves as a site for fostering literacy and skills.

Emerging Issues

Notwithstanding its strong functional architecture, PM-JANMAN still has to contend with several older obstacles to on-the-ground delivery:

Data, Discrepancies, and Accuracy: The root obstacle is the absence of standardized and reliable census data on PVTGs. Divergences between estimates generated at the central level and state-based surveys- with respect to eligible households- makes beneficiary identification and scheme targeting cumbersome; at best.
Logistical and Geographical Constraints: The extremely remote, and highly dispersed nature of PVTG siting- frequently deep in forest, and/or up hills- imposes serious logistical constraints to transporting materials and surfacing technical manpower.
Digital and Documentation Constraints: PVTGs often do not have access to the most basic documentation requirements such as Aadhaar or bank accounts, and may have issues- due to low literacy and poor network coverage- with digital processes in support of documentation requirements- e.g., Awaas+ registration app for housing. Further, wrongful deletion of MGNREGA job cards causes problems for all eligibility for housing benefits.
Dynamic Population Dynamics: The by definition and often seasonal migratory livelihood context of PVTGs presents challenges associated with continuous and accurate tracking of households, and the delivery of fixed infrastructure.

Way Forward

For PM-JANMAN to accomplish its ambitious goal of ‘saturation’ and provide permanent justice (Nyaya) to the PVTGs, the challenges emerging must all be dealt with as a combined effort.

Data Harmonization & Verification: The Centre and States must work together on Standardized Methodology of Social Surveying, and use local bodies such as the Gram Sabha, to facilitate community- verification of PVTG status, to ensure that no eligible family is excluded.
Technological Simplification: The e-registration process should be simplified and made usable for low-literate users, in a poor net work area. In this context, using the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) network, will be very useful in enhancing financial inclusion in unreachable remote areas.
Capacity Building & Convergence: Targeted and intensive training and sensitization of local administration, field staff, and partner NGOs should be planned and implemented. The convergence model should be strengthened, with State-level committees for real-time problem-solving across the nine line ministries.
Sustainability and Livelihood: Beyond infrastructure, the long-term relevant process requires ongoing investment in robust after-training support, credit linkages, and markets for the PVTG products produced by VDVKs (Van Dhan Vikas Kendras). Sustained impacts also require community-based maintenance models for water and power infrastructure.

PM-JANMAN is an opportunity to rectify years of negligence. By concentrating on the most vulnerable segment of society, it strengthens and embodies the spirit of inclusive development by advancing the ideals of moving towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’ where the gains of development reach the last person.

References

ADI Prasaran (Ministry of Tribal Affairs). (n.d.). About PM-JANMAN. Government of India. https://adiprasaran.tribal.gov.in/pm-janman01/Man.aspx
Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). PM-JANMAN: New Solar Power Scheme (for PVTG Habitations/Villages) under PM-JANMAN and PM JUGA. Government of India. https://mnre.gov.in/en/pm-janman/
Ministry of Tribal Affairs. (2024, January). PM-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Operational Guidelines. Government of India. https://adiprasaran.tribal.gov.in/pm-janman/janman_Download/PM-JANMAN-Operational%20Guidelines.pdf
National Institute for Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development (NIESBUD). (n.d.). PM-JANMAN. Government of India. https://www.niesbud.nic.in/pm-janman.html
Press Information Bureau. (2024, …). Implementation of PM-JANMAN. Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2036830
Press Information Bureau. (2025, May 22). Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) [Release ID 2130593]. Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2130593
Press Information Bureau. (2025, …). Work and achievements under PM-JANMAN [Release ID 2150193]. Government of India. Retrieved from https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150193

About the Author

Asmeet Kaur is a researcher at IMPRI and an undergraduate student at Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University, with a keen interest in Public policy and International relations.

Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.