100 Days of Modi Sarkar 2.0: Empowering Dalits, Minorities, and Tribals

In the first 100 days of prime minister Narendra Modi's new term, the government has outlined a clear agenda aimed at empowering Other backward classes (OBCs), Dalits, minorities, and tribal communities.

One of the key initiatives is the Developed Tribal village Campaign, which seeks to uplift 63,000 tribal villages and enhance the socio-economic conditions of around five crore tribals. Additionally, the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme has been expanded to include waste-pickers alongside sanitation workers, promoting their social and economic advancement.

The government has also issued three lakh identification cards for persons with disabilities from Scheduled Tribes, including over 1.17 lakh for individuals aged 60 and above. The Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM SURAJ) scheme has been broadened to improve access to concessional loans for Scheduled Castes (SCs), OBCs, and sanitation workers, thereby enhancing livelihood opportunities and fostering financial inclusion.

In terms of educational empowerment, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) scheme has made significant strides, with over 123,000 students currently enrolled across 405 schools nationwide. This initiative aims to provide quality education to tribal students and bridge educational disparities. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs plans to establish 728 EMRSs by 2026, with 708 already sanctioned.

To further support tribal students, the ministry is setting up 15 Centers of Excellence for sports within EMRSs, encouraging athletic development. Moreover, 40 new schools have been launched, and 110 existing schools have been upgraded with smart classrooms to modernize education and make learning more engaging.

The recently introduced Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to enhance the management and preservation of Waqf properties by establishing a wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">digital platform for their online registration and monitoring. This move is intended to improve transparency, reduce disputes, and modernize Waqf administration.

On Sunday, prime minister Modi emphadata-sized that the government’s priority is the development of tribals, the poor, Dalits, women, and youth, highlighting the various schemes designed to benefit these communities.