{"id":108501,"date":"2026-06-16T17:38:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T12:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=108501"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:38:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T12:08:02","slug":"inclusive-development-of-marginalised-communities-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/inclusive-development-of-marginalised-communities-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Inclusive Development of Marginalised Communities in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past decade, India has increasingly adopted the <\/span><b>principle of Antyodaya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; uplifting the last person in society. The focus has shifted from fragmented welfare delivery to <\/span><b>inclusive development through saturation-based coverage, last-mile service delivery, and targeted interventions for historically marginalised communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Inclusive Development and its Significance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Inclusive development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ensures that the benefits of growth are shared equitably across all sections of society and helps reduce socio-economic disparities.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It promotes social justice by addressing historical inequalities and barriers faced by vulnerable communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It strengthens human capital through improved access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and skill development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It enhances economic productivity by enabling marginalised populations to participate in the workforce and entrepreneurship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It reduces regional and social disparities, thereby promoting social cohesion and national integration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It contributes to the vision of <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/viksit-bharat-2047\/\" target=\"_blank\">Viksit Bharat 2047<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by ensuring that development reaches every citizen.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Inclusive Development Constitutional Provisions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s commitment to the welfare of disadvantaged groups is rooted in the Constitution.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/directive-principles-of-state-policy-dpsp\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Directive Principles of State Policy<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emphasise social welfare, equitable distribution of resources, and protection of vulnerable groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 46<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and weaker sections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Articles 15(4) and 16(4) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enable affirmative action for socially and educationally backward communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fifth and Sixth Schedules<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide special governance arrangements for tribal areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Empowerment of Tribal Population\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s tribal population has historically faced challenges arising from geographical remoteness, poor infrastructure, limited educational opportunities, and restricted access to healthcare and markets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognising these challenges, tribal development has emerged as a major focus area of public policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>PM JANMAN<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was launched in 2023 to improve the socio-economic conditions of <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/particularly-vulnerable-tribal-groups-pvtgs\/\" target=\"_blank\">Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme focuses on providing housing, roads, electricity, drinking water, healthcare, education, and livelihood support to PVTG communities residing in remote areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It adopts a multi-ministerial convergence model to ensure comprehensive development rather than fragmented welfare delivery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seeks to bridge long-standing developmental gaps in some of India\u2019s most isolated tribal settlements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PM-JUGA<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aims to accelerate development in tribal-majority villages through coordinated interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It promotes convergence among multiple ministries to simultaneously address deficiencies in infrastructure, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and social services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seeks to ensure that tribal development becomes outcome-oriented rather than scheme-centric.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Van Dhan Vikas Kendras<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Van Dhan Kendras<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help tribal communities move up the value chain by promoting processing, packaging, branding, and marketing of minor forest produce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They encourage entrepreneurship and increase incomes by reducing dependence on middlemen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional knowledge relating to medicinal plants and forest resources is being converted into sustainable livelihood opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of April 2026, 491 such centres had become operational against a target of 500.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 38,000 members of PVTG communities have undergone entrepreneurship development training, creating new avenues for income generation based on forest resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The expansion of <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ekalavya-model-residential-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\">Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has significantly improved educational access for tribal students.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These schools provide quality residential education with modern facilities such as laboratories, libraries, sports infrastructure, and digital learning tools.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They reduce educational disadvantages arising from geographical isolation and poor local schooling facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing numbers of tribal students are qualifying for competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET, indicating improved educational outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Preservation of Tribal Culture<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development efforts increasingly recognise the importance of protecting tribal identity and heritage. For example:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women from the Kamar PVTG community in Chhattisgarh have transformed traditional medicinal knowledge into sustainable livelihoods through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. Earlier dependent on selling raw forest produce at low prices, they now produce value-added AYUSH-certified herbal products. Products are marketed under the \u201cChhattisgarh Herbals\u201d brand, enhancing income and market reach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative has generated sales exceeding \u20b91.59 crore, illustrating how traditional knowledge can be integrated into modern economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Empowerment of Scheduled Castes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite constitutional safeguards, Scheduled Castes have historically faced social exclusion, educational disadvantages, and economic deprivation. Recent initiatives focus on improving educational attainment, livelihood opportunities, and social mobility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>PM-AJAY<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pm-ajay-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> promotes integrated development of Scheduled Caste-majority villages.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It focuses on improving infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and access to essential services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seeks to reduce regional disparities and improve quality of life in SC-dominated settlements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC)<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DAPSC ensures dedicated budgetary allocations for Scheduled Caste welfare across ministries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It promotes targeted spending on education, housing, healthcare, livelihoods, and skill development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It improves accountability and monitoring of welfare expenditure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Educational Empowerment<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Education remains one of the most effective instruments of social transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Provides scholarships, fellowships, free coaching, and support for higher education and overseas studies to SC students, helping them access premier institutions and improve career opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0 Provides quality residential education in reputed private schools to meritorious SC students from disadvantaged backgrounds, reducing educational inequalities and promoting social mobility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Improving Educational Outcomes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> : Recent years have also seen measurable improvements in educational indicators among Scheduled Castes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scheduled Caste enrolment in higher education reached 66.23 lakh in 2021-22<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, representing a 44 percent increase since 2014-15.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Female enrolment rose by 51 percent during the same period,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while the <\/span><b>Gross Enrolment Ratio for SC students increased from 18.9 percent to 25.9 percent.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Empowerment of OBCs, DNTs and Nomadic Communities<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development efforts have also increasingly targeted Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes, and <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/denotified-nomadic-and-semi-nomadic-tribes-dnts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Denotified and Nomadic Tribes<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>PM-YASASVI<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched in 2021-22, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM-YASASVI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provides scholarships and hostel facilities for students from OBC, EBC and DNT communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme covers education from school level through higher education, with all benefits transferred directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PM-DAKSH<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pm-daksh-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\">PM-DAKSH programme<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has trained more than 2.08 lakh beneficiaries since its launch in 2020-21.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scheme offers free certified skill training linked to employment and self-employment opportunities for SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs and sanitation workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>SEED Scheme<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> addresses longstanding challenges faced by denotified and nomadic tribes through coaching support, health insurance, livelihood assistance and housing aid.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2025-26 alone, thousands of beneficiaries received educational support, livelihood funding and Ayushman Bharat health cards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Minority Welfare and Skill Development<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government has sought to integrate various minority welfare initiatives under a unified framework.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>PM VIKAS<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focuses on skill development, entrepreneurship, leadership training, and economic empowerment of minority communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supports employability in both traditional occupations and modern sectors such as healthcare, aviation, and digital technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes income generation and economic participation among disadvantaged minority groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Dignity and Welfare of Sanitation Workers<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanitation workers often face occupational hazards, social stigma, and unsafe working conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>NAMASTE Scheme<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/namaste-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seeks to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It promotes mechanisation of sewer and septic tank cleaning operations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides skill training, livelihood support, safety equipment, and social security benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aims to restore dignity and occupational safety for sanitation workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inclusion of waste pickers has expanded the programme\u2019s social impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/aspirational-district-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\">Aspirational Districts Programme<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2018, represents another major pillar of inclusive governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covering 112 underdeveloped districts, the initiative focuses on health, education, nutrition, agriculture and financial inclusion through data-driven monitoring and competition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme was expanded in 2023 through the Aspirational Blocks Programme, which now covers 500 blocks across 329 districts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Achievements of Inclusive Development Efforts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent emphasis on last-mile delivery has produced measurable outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expansion of educational opportunities has enabled greater participation of marginalised communities in higher education and professional careers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tribal and Scheduled Caste students are increasingly entering premier institutions such as IITs, AIIMS, NITs, and IIMs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Livelihood initiatives have promoted entrepreneurship and income generation among vulnerable groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infrastructure expansion has improved access to roads, electricity, healthcare, housing, and drinking water in remote regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms have enhanced transparency and reduced leakages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital governance has improved accessibility and efficiency in welfare delivery.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While challenges such as poverty, social discrimination, regional disparities, and unequal access to opportunities persist, the policy emphasis on Antyodaya, social justice, and last-mile delivery has strengthened the foundations of inclusive growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Wayforward\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going forward, sustained investments in human capital, stronger institutional support, greater community participation, and effective implementation of welfare programmes will be crucial for ensuring that no section of society is left behind in India\u2019s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read about inclusive development in India, its significance, constitutional provisions, key government schemes, challenges, achievements, and the way forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":108356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-108501","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108501"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108506,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108501\/revisions\/108506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}