**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), a five-year program (2024-25 to 2028-29) aimed at the holistic development of tribal communities and villages. The program focuses on villages in aspirational blocks with a Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of 50 or more, and villages with at least 500 people and a minimum ST population of 50, covering approximately 63,643 villages across 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 26 States and 4 Union Territories. Currently, there are no plans to expand the number of villages included under DAJGUA.
Regarding the Valmiki Boya community in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has submitted proposals to the Government of India for recognition as a Scheduled Tribe, based on a 2017 study estimating their population at 2,580,000. However, the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI) did not support the proposal.
The Ministry is conducting coordination meetings with relevant departments and state/UT governments under DAJGUA to address gaps and monitor the program's progress. The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, provided this information to the Lok Sabha in response to a question from Shri Kesineni Sivanath and Shri G Lakshminarayana.
Key Entities Referenced
PMJUGA: Likely an abbreviation for a program/initiative related to tribal affairs. (Context: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Progress under PMJUGA)
Shri Kesineni Sivanath: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha.
Shri G Lakshminarayana: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha.
Shri Durgadas Uikey: Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was answered.
DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: A program for the holistic development of tribal communities and villages (DAJGUA).
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that submitted proposals regarding the Valmiki Boya community.
Valmiki Boya: A community in Andhra Pradesh seeking recognition as a Scheduled Tribe.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Progress under PM-JUGA
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 3:50PM by PIB Delhi
Replying today an un-starred question of Shri Kesineni Sivanath and Shri G Lakshminarayana the Union
Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the
“DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan” aims for the holistic development of tribal communities and
villages, focusing on those in Aspirational blocks with ST populations of 50 or more, and villages with at least
500 people and 50% ST population—covering around 63,643 villages. Over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29),
the program will reach 549 districts and 2,911 blocks across tribal-dominated areas in 26 States and 4 UTs.
Presently, Government has no plan to increase the number of villages under DAJGUA.
The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has reported that as per the study done by TCR&TI in 2017 (Dr.
PD Satya Pal Kumar, 2017), the Valmiki Boya associations gave an estimated figure of 25,80,000. The State
of Andhra Pradesh has submitted proposals to Government of India to recognize the Valmiki Boya
community as Scheduled Tribes. The Office of Registrar General of India (ORGI) didn't support the proposal
submitted by the State. Ministry is conducting coordination meetings with line departments and state/UT
governmnets under “DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan” (DAJGUA) for gap filling and to monitor
the progress sanctioned under DAJGUA.
****
RN/
(Release ID: 2159043)