Kumar Bahukhandi
Tribal Development Minister Ramvichar Netam addresses a press conference in Raipur at Chhattisgarh Samvad Auditorium on Monday July 13, 2026 , while Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah (left) outlines the department’s achievements and future roadmap for education, employment and tribal welfare in Chhattisgarh-Photo Credit-channel24india.com
Key Factors
- Two-and-a-Half Years of Progress: Tribal Development Minister Ramvichar Netam presented the department’s achievements under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, highlighting a renewed focus on tribal empowerment.
- 30.62% Tribal Population: The department is implementing targeted welfare and development initiatives for 43 tribal communities and sub-groups across Chhattisgarh.
- ₹94.57 Crore Scholarships: More than 84,700 tribal students received post-matric scholarships through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) during 2025-26.
- 2,817 Hostels & Ashrams: The state continues to strengthen residential education infrastructure for tribal students with thousands of hostels and ashrams in operation.
- Eklavya Schools Excel: 75 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are educating over 27,000 students, with students winning 162 medals at national sports competitions, placing Chhattisgarh second nationally.
- Youth Career Building: Under the Yuva Career Nirman Yojana, 164 tribal youth have been selected for All India and State Services. The initiative will soon expand into the CG-ACE Scheme.
- Forest Rights Implementation: Over 4.28 lakh individual forest rights titles have been distributed, while more than 16,000 pending claims have been resolved.
- Preserving Tribal Heritage: Programmes like Devgudi renovation, Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Folk Art Festival are promoting tribal culture and traditions.
- National Recognition: Chhattisgarh received national appreciation for the successful implementation of PM-JANMAN, benefiting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
- Massive Budget Allocation: The department has been allocated ₹2,136.26 crore for 2026-27, supported by a ₹42,165.95 crore Tribal Sub-Plan.
- Major Upcoming Projects: New Education Cities in Narayanpur and Sukma, a 500-seat Prayas Residential School in Bijapur, a sports complex in Korba, new hostels, ashrams, and educational exposure tours are planned.
- Vision for Inclusive Growth: The government aims to transform tribal welfare through quality education, employment generation, infrastructure development, and cultural preservation, ensuring sustainable and inclusive development across tribal regions.
Minister Ramvichar Netam Unveils Two-and-a-Half Years of Achievements; Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah Highlights Education Reforms and Future Roadmap
Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s Tribal Development Department on Monday July 13 , 2026 presented an extensive report card of its achievements over the last two and a half years, underscoring the state’s renewed focus on empowering tribal communities through education, livelihood opportunities, forest rights, infrastructure and cultural preservation.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Chhattisgarh Samvad Auditorium, Tribal Development Minister Ramvichar Netam said the Vishnu Deo Sai-led government has adopted a comprehensive approach towards ensuring the socio-economic transformation of the state’s tribal population, which constitutes nearly 30.62 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s total population.
Sharing the dais with the Minister, Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah outlined the department’s major initiatives, achievements and upcoming projects, stating that tribal welfare is no longer confined to welfare schemes alone but is now focused on creating sustainable opportunities through education, skill development and institutional support.
Scholarships and Residential Education Strengthened
One of the department’s biggest achievements has been the reform of the post-matric scholarship system. During 2025-26, scholarships worth ₹94.57 crore were transferred directly into the bank accounts of 84,702 students through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring transparency and timely disbursement.
The state currently operates 2,817 tribal hostels and ashrams, providing residential education facilities to lakhs of students across Chhattisgarh.
Eklavya Schools Shine Nationally
Highlighting educational excellence, Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah said 75 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are functioning across the state with an enrolment exceeding 27,000 students.
Apart from performing well in competitive examinations, students from these schools have also brought sporting glory to the state by winning 162 medals at national competitions—55 Gold, 43 Silver and 64 Bronze medals—placing Chhattisgarh second in the country among EMRS institutions.
Career Opportunities for Tribal Youth
The department’s Yuva Career Nirman Yojana has enabled 164 tribal youths to secure positions in All India Services and various state government services.
The government now plans to expand this initiative into the CG-ACE Scheme from the coming academic year to prepare more tribal youth for competitive examinations through specialised coaching and institutional support.
Additional educational support continues through Prayas Residential Schools, sports academies and coaching centres.
Forest Rights and Tribal Heritage Receive Equal Focus
The department also highlighted significant progress in implementing the Forest Rights Act, under which more than 4.28 lakh individual forest rights titles have been distributed while thousands of community forest rights certificates have also been issued.
Officials informed that over 16,000 cases out of nearly 19,000 pending forest rights claims have already been resolved.
To preserve tribal traditions and cultural identity, initiatives such as the Devgudi Construction and Renovation Scheme, Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Lok Kala Mahotsav are being implemented across the state.
National Recognition under PM-JANMAN
Chhattisgarh has also earned national recognition for its implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), which focuses on delivering essential services and infrastructure to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
₹42,165 Crore Tribal Sub-Plan to Drive Future Growth
Looking ahead, the department has received a budgetary allocation of ₹2,136.26 crore for 2026-27, while the broader Tribal Sub-Plan carries an outlay of ₹42,165.95 crore.
Upcoming projects include:
- Construction of a modern sports complex in Korba
- A new 500-seat Prayas Residential School in Bijapur
- Fully-equipped Education Cities in Narayanpur and Sukma
- New hostel and ashram buildings
- Educational exposure visits for tribal students
- Expansion of educational and skill development infrastructure across Bastar, Surguja and central Chhattisgarh
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ramvichar Netam reiterated that the government’s vision extends beyond welfare and aims to create a self-reliant tribal society equipped with quality education, employment opportunities and a strong cultural foundation.
The press conference was also attended by Dr. Jagdish Sonkar, Director of the Antyavyavasayi Finance and Development Corporation; Rahul Venkat, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare Department; and Heena Animesh Netam, Director, Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI).
