VP Radhakrishnan Praises Rise in Tribal Affairs Budget

• VP briefed on major initiatives in education, health, livelihood and cultural rejuvenation.
• Commends three-fold budget rise for Tribal Affairs Ministry over 11 years.
• Stresses need to boost higher-education access and reduce dropouts among tribal students.
• Appreciates Ministry’s focused efforts to combat sickle cell anaemia in tribal regions.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th Nov: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan was briefed on the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s major initiatives and achievements during a meeting with Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram at Parliament House on Monday. Senior officials of the Ministry also attended the session.

The presentation outlined the Ministry’s work in securing tribal rights, improving education and health services, expanding scholarships, promoting tribal culture, and strengthening livelihood programmes through financial support and traditional skill-based enterprises. Officials highlighted progress under flagship schemes including the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, PM-JANMAN, and the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan. The Ministry also detailed its plans to modernise and expand Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country.

Targeted measures for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), including steps to protect their habitat rights, were also discussed.

The Vice-President appreciated the three-fold rise in the Ministry’s budget outlay over the last eleven years. He stressed the need to improve access to quality higher education for tribal students, including overseas opportunities, and called for continuous academic support, better monitoring, and stronger university–school linkages to reduce dropouts and ensure smooth entry into higher education.

He also praised the Ministry’s efforts to combat sickle cell anaemia and reinforce health infrastructure in tribal areas. Emphasising the importance of cultural recognition, he urged the Ministry to highlight the contributions of lesser-known tribal heroes.

Reiterating that welfare schemes must benefit all sections of the tribal population, the Vice-President said the vision of Viksit Bharat can be achieved only when the upliftment and well-being of tribal communities are fully ensured.