Budget 2023: Rs 15,000 Crore Mission Announced For Providing Basic Infrastructure To Vulnerable Tribes

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Development Mission today (1 February) as part of the Union Budget 2023-24.

This PM PVTG Development Mission aims to provide basic facilities like housing, water, road, telecom, education and health in PVTG areas.

The union government allocated Rs 15,000 crore for this scheme to be implemented over the next three years.

Around 75 tribes are recognized as PVTG. PVTGs are more backward and vulnerable groups among the Scheduled Tribes (STs).

This PVTG category was created by the Dhebar commission in 1973.Physical isolation, absence of written language, usage of primitive technology and resistance to change are some of the characteristics of PVTGs. Among all states, Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs.

The Finance Minister also reiterated the BJP led government's commitment to increase last mile connectivity and said that the government has already launched an aspirational blocks programme  on the lines of successfully implemented aspirational districts programme.

To provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe students, the Finance Minister announced that over 38,000 teachers and supporting staff will be recruited for over 700 Eklavya model schools in the next three years. The minister said that this measure would benefit over 3.5 lakh tribal students.