Antyodaya in Action — Ensuring Dignity, Opportunity and Growth for All

Why in News?

The Government highlighted the progress of major welfare programmes aimed at ensuring dignity, opportunity and growth for deprived and marginalised communities.

The approach is based on Antyodaya, or prioritising the person at the last mile. It covers tribal communities, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes, minorities, nomadic groups, sanitation workers and waste pickers.

Antyodaya as a Governance Framework

Antyodaya means the rise and welfare of the poorest and most disadvantaged person.

The approach reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s idea that public policy should be judged by whether it benefits the weakest person. It seeks to move governance:

• From fragmented welfare to convergent delivery
• From limited coverage to saturation
• From symbolic inclusion to substantive equality
• From welfare dependency to skills and livelihoods
• From remote administration to last-mile service delivery

Tribal habitations, aspirational districts and remote settlements are increasingly being placed at the centre of development planning.

Tribal Communities at the Centre of Development

Tribal communities possess rich cultural traditions, indigenous knowledge and strong community institutions. However, many habitations historically lacked:

• Roads and transport
• Housing
• Drinking water
• Electricity
• Healthcare
• Education
• Digital connectivity
• Employment opportunities

Recent interventions seek to bridge these gaps through coordinated action across ministries.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

PM-JANMAN

• PM-JANMAN was launched in November 2023.
• It targets 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group communities.
• It covers 18 States and one Union Territory.
• It includes 11 interventions implemented by nine ministries.
• Total budgetary outlay: ₹24,104 crore.

Major Interventions

• Pucca housing , Road connectivity , Piped drinking water , Electrification , Mobile medical units , Anganwadi centres , Hostels , Mobile towers , Multipurpose centres Van Dhan Vikas Kendras , Vocational skilling

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras support tribal communities in:

• Collection of minor forest produce , Processing and value addition , Packaging and branding , Marketing , Local employment generation , Entrepreneurship development

The training is being supported by:

• National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
• Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship
• TRIFED

PM-JUGA / Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, now known as PM-JUGA, was launched in October 2024.

• It brings together the efforts of 17 ministries.
• It focuses on tribal-majority villages and PVTG habitations.
• It shifts tribal development from isolated interventions to coordinated mission-mode delivery.

Support to Tribal Research Institutes

Tribal Research Institutes document and preserve:

• Tribal languages ,Oral histories , Cultural traditions ,Indigenous knowledge Community practices ,Traditional medicine , Forest rights and livelihoods
• TRIs are supported across 29 States and Union Territories.
• They undertake research, publications, archives, museums, festivals and outreach activities. Their work is also supported through the Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events scheme.
• Research institutions involved include IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, TERI and the Bhasha Research Institute.

Justice and Dignity for Scheduled Castes

The Scheduled Caste development strategy combines:

• Village infrastructure , Education , Skill development, Livelihood opportunities Financial inclusion , Social dignity , Targeted budgetary support

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana

PM-AJAY

• Launched in 2021.
• Focuses on integrated development of SC-majority villages.
• Supports infrastructure, skills and livelihoods.
• Its Adarsh Gram component follows an area-based approach.
• It uses convergence, village plans and gap-filling assistance.

SHREYAS

Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme was launched in February 2019.

It supports SC, OBC and EBC students in:

• Higher education , Research , Competitive examinations , Overseas studies

Progress in 2025–26

• Top Class Education supported 4,156 SC students in IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NITs and other premier institutions.
• 30% of seats were reserved for SC girls.
• Free Coaching Scheme assisted 990 students.
• National Overseas Scholarship supported 72 students.
• Research scholarships benefited:
  • 4,153 SC scholars
  • 1,969 OBC scholars

SHRESHTA

Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas was launched in June 2022.

It supports SC students from low-income families studying in Classes IX to XII.

Two Modes

• Mode I: Admission of meritorious SC students to private residential schools through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA.
• Mode II: Support to residential schools run by voluntary organisations and institutions.

Eligible SC students with annual family income up to ₹2.5 lakh can appear for NETS.

PM-DAKSH

Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana was launched in 2020–21.

It provides free and certified skill training linked with wage employment and self-employment.

Beneficiaries

• Scheduled Castes—no income ceiling
• OBCs—family income up to ₹3 lakh
• EBCs—family income up to ₹1 lakh
• Denotified and Nomadic Tribes—no income ceiling
• Sanitation workers and waste pickers—no income ceiling

More than 2.08 lakh beneficiaries have been trained.

VISVAS Yojana

Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ko Aarthik Sahayata Yojana provides affordable credit to:

• Scheduled Castes
• Other Backward Classes
• Safai Karmacharis

The scheme offers an interest subsidy of up to 5% per annum on eligible loans through Direct Benefit Transfer.

PM VIKAS

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan was launched in 2025 for the educational, economic and social development of minority communities.

It converges five earlier schemes:

• Seekho Aur Kamao , USTTAD ,Hamari Dharohar , Nai Roshni , Nai Manzil

Focus Areas

• Industry-oriented skill development , Employment , Entrepreneurship , Leadership
• Cultural preservation

Training covers areas such as:

• Airline cabin crew , Gardening and nursery management , Traditional hand embroidery , Graphic design ,Electrician work , Drone research and development Healthcare Agriculture , Media and entertainment

NAMASTE

The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem seeks to ensure safety and dignity for sewer and septic-tank workers.

Significance of the Antyodaya Approach

• Places vulnerable communities at the centre of development.
• Promotes convergence across ministries.
• Improves access to education, health, housing and infrastructure.
• Protects tribal culture and indigenous knowledge.
• Supports women-led livelihoods and SHGs.
• Promotes financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.
• Strengthens dignity and safety for sanitation workers.
• Links welfare with skills, employment and enterprise.
• Supports the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Key Challenges

• Uneven implementation across States and districts
• Gaps in awareness and beneficiary identification
• Delays in infrastructure completion
• Shortage of trained field-level personnel
• Digital and documentation barriers
• Difficulty in reaching remote tribal habitations
• Need for better outcome monitoring
• Risk of excluding migrant, nomadic and undocumented groups
• Weak market linkages for tribal and community products
• Persistent discrimination and social exclusion

Way Forward

• Adopt saturation-based coverage in every eligible habitation.
• Strengthen Gram Sabha and community participation.
• Improve convergence between ministries and State governments.
• Use local languages for awareness and service delivery.
• Expand market access for tribal and SHG products.
• Strengthen social audits and outcome monitoring.
• Ensure safe technology and mechanisation for sanitation workers.
• Improve scholarships, hostels and digital learning access.
• Protect tribal land, culture and intellectual traditions.
• Link welfare schemes with sustainable jobs and enterprises.

Conclusion

Antyodaya represents a shift from viewing disadvantaged communities as passive welfare recipients to recognising them as active participants in national development.

Programmes such as PM-JANMAN, PM-JUGA, PM-AJAY, SHREYAS, SHRESHTA, PM-DAKSH, VISVAS, PM VIKAS and NAMASTE combine infrastructure, education, skills, credit, livelihoods and dignity. Continued progress will require transparent implementation, community participation and strong last-mile delivery so that social justice becomes a lived reality within Viksit Bharat @2047.