₹5 lakh to transform tribal house into homestay unit

• Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a new initiative under the Tourism Ministry’s Swadesh Darshan scheme.
• This is one of the 25 interventions planned under the Pradhan Mantri-Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA).
• It is a comprehensive development package aimed at uplifting tribal communities across India.

Tourism and Livelihood Enhancement

• Under the initiative, up to ₹5 lakh will be provided to each tribal household and village to create or upgrade tourist homestays.
• This aims to tap into the tourism potential of tribal areas and provide alternative livelihoods.
• Objective: To boost local economies by leveraging the tourism potential and creating sustainable income sources for tribal communities.

Pradhan Mantri-Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA)

• Improving socio-economic condition of tribal communities, by adopting saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.
• It comprises 25 interventions to be implemented by 17-line ministries through funds allocated under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) over a five-year period.
• Total outlay: Rs.79,156 crore with Central Share of Rs.56,333 crore.
• Coverage: 63,000 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people, covering 549 districts across 30 States/UTs.
• Tribal villages covered will be mapped and progress will be monitored on the PM Gati Shakti platform.

Agricultural and Forest Rights

• The initiative will support sustainable farming practices on Forest Rights Act (FRA) land.
• The government aims to expedite pending FRA claims and secure forest rights.
• Support: Includes fish culture, livestock rearing, and capacity-building for gram sabhas and officials.

Scheme Saturation Drive

Infrastructure and Basic Amenities

• Housing: Plans to build 20 lakh pucca homes for tribal families.
• Roads and Water: Lay 25,000 km of roads and provide piped water to eligible villages.
• Electricity: Electrify 2.35 lakh households and public institutions.
• LPG Connections: Provide 25 lakh LPG connections.

Education and Health

• Education: Increase Gross Enrolment Ratio through better infrastructure and resources in schools.
• Health
• Set up 1,000 mobile medical units, construct 2,000 new anganwadi centres, and upgrade 6,000 more.
• Ensure Ayushman cards are distributed to each household in tribal-majority villages.

Additional Goals

• Broadband Connectivity: Provide discrimination-free broadband to 5,000 tribal villages under BharatNet.
• Marketing Centres: Establish 100 tribal multi-purpose marketing centres.

Prelims Takeaway

• Pradhan Mantri-Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA)
• Swadesh Darshan scheme