In a significant update on tribal welfare, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram on Wednesday laid a comprehensive statement in Parliament detailing the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and other key tribal development programmes in Odisha.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been closely monitoring interventions under PM JANMAN across the state. As of 30 June 2026, the scheme is delivering tangible benefits in housing, roads, water supply, mobile connectivity, electrification and livelihood support for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
According to habitation-level data collected through the PM Gati Shakti mobile application, Odisha has 73,092 PVTG households with a total population of 3,12,654. The actual number of beneficiaries under various interventions depends on the specific eligibility criteria of each scheme.
Financial progress under the Ministry’s own components shows steady movement. For Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs), Odisha received approved funds of ₹44.4 crore, with substantial releases and utilisation reported across 2023-24 to 2026-27. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have also seen fund sanctions and releases supporting tribal entrepreneurship and forest produce value addition.
District-wise data reveals widespread activity. Under PMAY-G, thousands of houses have been sanctioned and completed in tribal-dominated districts such as Kendujhar (10,161 sanctioned, 8,897 completed), Rayagada, Kalahandi and Gajapati. Road works under PMGSY, village saturation under Jal Jeevan Mission, mobile coverage by the Department of Telecommunications, and household electrification by the Ministry of Power are progressing across 14 districts.
Complementing PM JANMAN is the Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA). Progress as of 10 July 2026 includes 1,11,370 houses sanctioned under PMAY-G (54,853 completed), 629 km of roads sanctioned, 3,611 villages saturated with drinking water, 107 Mobile Medical Units operationalised, and significant expansion in LPG connections, skill centres, fisheries and livestock support. Ashram schools and hostels have seen 527 units sanctioned, with work underway on hundreds of them. A Centre of Competence at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, is also under installation.
Education remains a strong focus. Scholarship schemes recorded healthy growth: Post-Matric Scholarship beneficiaries rose from 2,13,957 in 2023-24 to 2,52,391 in 2025-26, while Pre-Matric numbers climbed to 1,25,832. National Fellowship and Top Class scholarships also showed steady increases.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) stand out as a flagship success. Of 114 schools sanctioned in Odisha, 47 are functional and 62 completed, with 45 under construction. Student enrolment has grown impressively from 7,317 in 2021-22 to 13,367 in 2025-26, reflecting expanding access to quality residential education for tribal children.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), 170 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been sanctioned, benefiting over 50,000 people, with 152 already operational. Infrastructure development for haat bazars and storage godowns continues through the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Limited.
The Ministry emphasised that progress is assessed through periodic reviews, field monitoring and state reports. Improvements in basic amenities and livelihood opportunities are steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of PVTGs and other tribal communities across Odisha.
The statement underscores the Centre’s commitment to last-mile delivery and inclusive growth for some of India’s most vulnerable populations, turning policy into measurable change on the ground.
