Reimagining Tribal Welfare in India: Comparing PM-JANMAN and Tribal Development Schemes towards Viksit Bharat 2047
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Tribal development has long been a priority in India's journey toward inclusive growth, yet the outcomes of various welfare initiatives have remained uneven due to structural challenges, geographical isolation and policy fragmentation. Over the decades, the Government of India has introduced several programmes to improve the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Tribes, especially the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In this context, the present study explores the evolution of tribal welfare policies from 1970 to 2023 and examines the emergence of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) as a transformative initiative aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. This research adopts a qualitative, descriptive and comparative policy analysis approach. It reviews key national-level interventions including the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), the Forest Rights Act (FRA), Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and other sectoral programmes. The analysis relies on secondary data drawn from government reports, policy documents, NITI Aayog publications and academic literature. A structured analytical framework is used to compare the schemes based on their policy approach, governance model, target population, sectoral coverage and implementation strategy. The findings show that India's tribal welfare approach has gradually shifted through four broad phases-fund allocation, rights-based governance, sector-specific development and finally a convergencedriven model. While earlier policies made significant contributions in areas such as funding, legal empowerment and infrastructure development, many programmes functioned in isolation, resulting in gaps in service delivery and limited holistic impact. PM-JANMAN represents a major step forward by bringing together 11 ministries under a mission-mode framework to ensure last-mile delivery of essential services to PVTGs. The study concludes that convergence-based governance has the potential to redefine tribal development by promoting coordination, accountability and comprehensive service delivery. Strengthening implementation, monitoring and community participation will be critical to ensure that the goals of PM-JANMAN translate into tangible improvements in the lives of tribal communities and contribute meaningfully to the realisation of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7171835106