Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 22 February 2023
During her ongoing five-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Hon’ble President of India, Smti. Droupadi Murmu, engaged in a significant interaction with the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on February 21, 2024, at Raj Nivas.
The President emphasised the critical need to extend government schemes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), to all PVTGs residing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
PM-JANMAN, boasting a budget of approximately Rs 24,000 crore, targets 11 key interventions across nine ministries. The initiative aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of PVTGs by saturating their households and habitations with essential amenities. These include provisions for safe housing, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, improved access to education, healthcare, and nutrition, as well as ensuring electricity, road, and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The President’s interaction underscores the government’s commitment to address the unique challenges faced by PVTGs and to ensure their holistic development. The visit signifies a crucial step towards fostering inclusivity and promoting the welfare of marginalized communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.