Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled a major package of tribal welfare and infrastructure initiatives during his visit to Dediapada, Gujarat. He participated in the Grih Pravesh of one lakh houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JAGUA), aimed at improving living conditions in tribal-dominated regions.
As part of the development package, the Prime Minister inaugurated 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) worth around ₹1,900 crore, significantly expanding access to quality education for tribal students. He also inaugurated 228 Multi-Purpose Centres that will serve as hubs for community-led activities. In the Northeast, he inaugurated the Centre of Competence at Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh and the Tribal Research Institute building in Imphal, set up to promote research, cultural preservation and documentation of tribal heritage.
PM Modi flagged off 250 buses for 14 tribal districts in Gujarat and laid the foundation stone for 748 km of new roads to improve mobility and access to services. He also laid the foundation stone of 14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres (TMMCs) under DA-JAGUA, envisioned as community platforms to support economic activities and local entrepreneurship.
Reiterating the government’s focus on education in tribal areas, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for 50 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools worth over ₹2,320 crore. The new institutions, he said, will help bridge educational gaps and provide tribal students with expanded opportunities.