Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna

Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revamped the existing Scheme of ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS)’ with the nomenclature ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna (PMAAGY)’, for implementation during 2021-22 to 2025-26.

About PMAAGY:

• Aim:
• To transform villages with significant tribal populations into ‘model villages (Adarsh Gram)’ covering about the population of 4.22 crore (About 40% of the total Tribal Population). 
• To achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through a convergence approach.
• It is envisaged to cover 36,428 villages having at least 50% tribal population and 500 STs across States / UTs with notified STs.
• Key provisions:
• Planning: It includes preparing Village Development Plan based on the needs, potential, and aspirations.
• Focus group: It also includes maximizing the coverage of individual/family benefit schemes of the Central / State Governments and improving the infrastructure in vital sectors like health, education, connectivity and livelihood.
• Sectors covered: It will mitigate gaps prominently in 8 sectors of development Road connectivity (Internal and Intervillage /block), Telecom connectivity (Mobile /internet), Schools, Anganwadi Centres, Health Sub-Centre, Drinking water facility, Drainage and solid waste management.
• Fund allocation: A sum of Rs20.38 lakh per village as ‘Gap-filling’ has been provisioned for approved activities including administrative expenses under PMAAGY.
• Besides States / UTs are encouraged for convergence of resources as Central / State Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) funds and other financial resources available with them for saturation of gaps in the villages identified under PMAAGY.

Other Government Initiatives for Tribals:

• Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) aims at creating enabling environment for the need-based and outcome-oriented holistic development of the tribal people.
• Van Dhan Scheme: The scheme will be implemented through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED as Nodal Agency at the National Level.
• At the State level, the State Nodal Agency for MFPs and the District collectors are envisaged to play a pivot role in scheme implementation at the grassroots level.
• Locally the Kendras are proposed to be managed by a Managing Committee (an SHG) consisting of representatives of Van Dhan SHGs in the cluster.