Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ on October 2 from Hazaribag, Jharkhand. The initiative is aimed at promoting the holistic development of tribal communities across the country.

A state-level event will be held in Rajpur, Balrampur-Ramanujganj district of Chhattisgarh, where chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and other dignitaries will be present. PM Modi will participate virtually, with the district administration arranging a live broadcast at the Government Higher Secondary School grounds in Budha Bagicha, Rajpur.

CM Sai will inaugurate 108 development projects worth Rs. 192.60 crore, including the foundation stone laying for the Eklavya Model Residential School in Rajpur. He will also distribute kits from various government schemes to eligible beneficiaries and visit stalls showcasing different programs.

The ‘Dharti Aaba’ initiative will reach 63,000 villages, benefiting over five crore tribal people across 549 districts and 2,740 blocks in 30 states and union territories. In Chhattisgarh, it will cover 6,691 tribal-dominated villages across 138 development blocks in 32 districts.

The initiative will focus on enhancing basic infrastructure and implementing social and economic development programs. The government will address critical gaps in areas like social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods through 25 interventions coordinated by various ministries.

In a recent Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, the Abhiyan was approved with a budget of Rs 79,156 crore. The program will be implemented over the next five years in collaboration with central and state governments.

The initiative also includes infrastructure development, economic empowerment, and improvements in education and health standards. Eligible tribal families will receive pucca houses, tap water, electricity, and access to healthcare through various government schemes. Roads, mobile connectivity, and internet facilities will also be enhanced in tribal areas.

Skill development and marketing support will be provided to tribal students and FRA leaseholders, while efforts will be made to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio in schools and access to quality healthcare for tribal families.