The Union Budget 2025-26 provides a historic financial boost for tribal welfare, with a 45.79% increase in funding for the development of 10.45 crore tribal people across India.
Budgetary Support for Tribal Welfare
- Total allocation for tribal development: ₹14,925.81 Cr (2025-26) → 45.79% increase from ₹10,237.33 Cr (2024-25).
- 231.83% rise since 2014-15 (₹4,497.96 Cr) → sustained government focus on tribal welfare.
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Major Schemes & Allocations
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):
- 2025-26 Allocation: ₹7,088.60 crore (nearly double from ₹4,748 crore in 2024-25).
- Objective: Provide quality education to tribal students in remote areas.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission:
- 2025-26 Allocation: ₹380.40 crore (up from ₹152.32 crore).
- Objective: Create year-round income-generating opportunities for tribal communities.
- Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY):
- 2025-26 Allocation: ₹335.97 crore (163% increase).
- Objective: Bridge infrastructural gaps in education, healthcare, and employment.
- Multi-Purpose Centers (MPC) under PM-JANMAN:
- 2025-26 Allocation: ₹300 crore (doubled from ₹150 crore).
- Objective: Enhance socio-economic support in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) dominated habitations.
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA)
- Objective: Saturation of infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages.
- Budgetary Outlay: ₹79,156 crore over five years (Central Share: ₹56,333 crore, State Share: ₹22,823 crore).
- 2025-26 Allocation: ₹2,000 crore (quadrupled from ₹500 crore).
About Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
- Establishment and Objective: EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.
- The schools focus on the all-round development of the students.
- Coverage: Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.
- Funding: Grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
- Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS): Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)
- Launched: 2021-22 for period of 2021-22 to 2025-26
- Nodal Agency: TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India)
- Objective: Strengthening tribal entrepreneurship and enhancing livelihood opportunities through sustainable use of natural resources.
- Merger of Existing Schemes
- “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP)” – Ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Value Chain Development for MFP.
- “Institutional Support for Development & Marketing of Tribal Products” – Promoting tribal enterprises & value addition.
- Key Focus Areas
- Sustainable livelihood generation through MFP, farm & non-farm activities.
- Promotion of tribal enterprises, cooperatives, & self-managed producer groups.
- Strengthening market linkages & value chain development.
Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)
- It is a scheme to transform villages with significant tribal populations into model villages.
- It is a revamped version of the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS).
- Duration: Implemented during 2021-22 to 2025-26
- Objectives
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- Improve the infrastructure in vital sectors like health, education, connectivity, and livelihood
- Prepare Village Development Plans based on the needs, potential, and aspirations
- Maximize the benefit of the schemes of the Centre and States to the Scheduled Population
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan Package
- Launched in 2024 as Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Total Outlay: ₹79,156 crore allocated for implementation over five years.
- Aim: For improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities, by adopting saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.
- Coverage: It will cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks spread across all tribal majority villages across 30 States / UTs.
- Key Features:
- Integration of 17 ministries through 25 targeted interventions.
- Focus on health, education, livelihoods, and skill development.
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- The Constitution of India does not define ‘tribe’.
- The term Scheduled Tribe (ST) was inserted in Article 342(1).
- Article 342(1): The President may, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes for constitutional purposes.
- Educational and Cultural Rights of Tribals in India:
- Article 15(4): Special provisions for the advancement of Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes.
- Article 29: Protection of tribal identity, culture, and language under the rights of minorities.
- Article 46: The State must promote educational and economic interests of STs and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
- Article 350: Right to conserve a distinct language, script, or culture.
- Political Rights
- Article 330: Reservation of seats for STs in the Lok Sabha.
- Article 332: Reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures.
- Article 243D: Reservation of seats for STs in Panchayats to ensure grassroots political participation.
- Administrative & Economic Rights
- Article 275(1): Grants-in-aid by the Union Government to States for promoting ST welfare and administration in Scheduled Areas.
- Article 244(1):
- Fifth Schedule: Applies to Scheduled Areas in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura.
- Sixth Schedule: Governs tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, allowing autonomous district councils (ADCs).
- Article 16(4): Provides for reservations in government jobs for backward classes, including STs.
- Article 16(4A): Allows reservation in promotions for STs in government services.
Key Issues Faced by Tribes in India
- Land & Resource Rights: Large-scale development projects, mining, and deforestation have led to forced evictions of tribal communities.
- As of 2022, only 50% of the 42.76 lakh claims under FRA were approved (Ministry of Tribal Affairs).
- Socio-Economic Marginalization: STs have one of the highest poverty rates in India.
- Lack of healthcare, clean drinking water, and sanitation in remote tribal regions.
- Educational Gap: High dropout rates in STs due to poverty, lack of schools, and cultural differences.
- According to the 2011 Census, the literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes (STs) was 59%, which is significantly below the national average.
- Exploitation & Bonded Labor: Human trafficking & child labor are major issues in tribal-dominated areas.
- Many STs are forced into low-paying and hazardous jobs due to lack of economic opportunities.
- Cultural Erosion: Urbanization and modernization are leading to the loss of tribal languages, traditions, and customs.
- Inadequate representation in national cultural policies and media.
- Lack of Political Representation: Despite constitutional safeguards, ST communities often have little say in policymaking at both national and state levels.
Way Forward for Tribal Welfare
- Land & Resource Rights: Strict implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 to provide STs with legal land titles.
- Protection from displacement due to development projects.
- Education & Skill Development: Bilingual education programs to help tribal students learn in their mother tongue.
- Scholarships & incentives to reduce dropout rates among tribal children.
- Expansion of EMRS (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) to improve educational access.
- Healthcare & Sanitation: Strengthening of health infrastructure in tribal-dominated areas.
- Special healthcare initiatives for Sickle Cell Disease, malnutrition, and maternal health.
- Women’s Empowerment: Skill development programs for tribal women under schemes like Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY).
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs) & micro-credit schemes to promote financial independence.
- Cultural Preservation: Encourage tribal art & heritage through TRIFED, Aadi Mahotsav, and cultural festivals.
- Support for indigenous languages through digital platforms & community-run schools.
- Inclusive Governance & Representation: Strengthen Gram Sabhas in tribal areas for better participation in local governance.
- Ensure proper representation of STs in policymaking bodies.
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Conclusion
The Union Budget 2025-26 fosters tribal empowerment through enhanced education, economic opportunities, health, and cultural preservation. This comprehensive approach aims to build self-reliant, empowered tribal communities, driving the vision of Viksit Bharat.
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February 5, 2025
