PM JANMAN – UPSC Sociological Perspective
July 13, 2024
PM JANMAN is a government scheme that aims to bring tribal communities into the mainstream. The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the State governments and the PVTG communities.
The scheme will concentrate on 11 critical interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries, ensuring the implementation of existing schemes in villages inhabited by PVTGs. It encompasses various sectors, including safe housing under thePM-AWAS Scheme, access to clean drinking water,improved healthcare, education, nutrition, road and telecommunications connectivity, as well as opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Sociological Analysis
- From a functionalist perspective, this scheme will allow the tribal communities to be integrated into mainstream society by addressing the issue of social exclusion that has been affecting them perpetually.
- The scheme provides for enhancing the accessibility to quality education, with the focus on increasing enrolment rate and retention rate among PVTG children. This will improve the cultural capital of children amongst the group.
- The plan also includes the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for trading in forest produce, off-grid solar power systems for 1 lakh households, and solar street lights.
- This would help in augmenting their economic capital by providing more avenues for selling their produce and the solar power facilities would help in alleviating energy poverty as well.
- By an improvement in their economic and social capital, it can be ensured that there would be an upward social mobility amongst the members of PVTG and thus, saving them from the perils of bonded labour, child labour, indebtedness etc.
- Establishment of electricity, telecom connectivity etc to PVTG habitations would increase their access to information and also an improvement in technological awareness. This can greatly help in addressing the problem of cultural lag prevalent with the PVTG community.
- From a subaltern perspective, this scheme primarily addresses the concerns of one of the most marginalized communities in Indian society, whose literacy, economic stability, population etc are alarmingly low.
- By drafting policies for their improvement, it not only enhances their social status but also prevents them from being alienated from mainstream society.
- PM JANMAN scheme with a special focus and guarantee on clean water, sanitation, housing etc will reduce associated health risks and improve the overall well being of PVTG members, who have been suffering from all inadequacies and many a times, encountering life and death situations. Thus it would ameliorate their social capital.
- From a political perspective, by formulating a scheme to lift up a historically marginalized community in the society, the state has lived up to our constitutional ideals and ensured the welfare state
- Reciprocally, with the improved status and empowerment of the PVTG community, they can also turn into a strong pressure group and indeed, voice their concerns with more strength and enthusiasm.
The PM-JANMAN scheme is expected to bring about a transformational change in the lives of the PVTGs by addressing their specific needs and aspirations. The scheme will also contribute to the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas.
