Antyodaya: 12 Years of Inclusive Growth Brings Marginalized Communities to the Forefront - PIB Report 12 June 2026

 

Over the last 12 years, the Government of India has adopted 'Antyodaya' as its core principle to bring marginalized communities into the mainstream of development. According to today’s Press Information Bureau report, major progress has been made in education, skilling, infrastructure, and dignity.

1. Tribal Communities at the Center of Development 
The PM JANMAN scheme, launched in November 2023, targets 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups across 18 States and 1 UT. With a budget of ₹24,104 crore, it addresses housing, clean water, electricity, and road connectivity through 11 interventions by 9 ministries. 

Through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, 87 women from the Kamar PVTG community in Jharkhand’s Gariaband district produced Ayurvedic products under the 'Chhattisgarh Herbals' brand, achieving sales worth ₹159.59 lakh. As of April 2026, 491 of 500 targeted VDVKs are operational.

2. Quality Education Expanding Fast 
The Eklavya Model Residential School network has grown rapidly since 2018. As of 2026, over 1.56 lakh students are enrolled across 499 schools, with 323 more under construction. 
Jatin Negi from Sangla village, Himachal Pradesh, used EMRS facilities to clear JEE Advanced and is now studying at IIT Jodhpur. In 2024-25, 597 EMRS students cleared JEE and NEET.

3. Justice and Dignity for Scheduled Castes 
Under PM-AJAY, 47,334 villages across 597 districts in 26 states are being developed through infrastructure, skilling, and livelihood projects. This covers over 4 crore citizens and 83 lakh families. 

The SHREYAS scheme supported 4,156 SC students in premier institutions in 2025-26, with 30% seats reserved for SC girls. 
SC enrollment in higher education rose 44% to 66.23 lakh in 2021-22 compared to 2014-15. For SC girls, the increase was 51% to 31.71 lakh. The Gross Enrolment Ratio for SC students is now 25.9%.

4. Skilling and Livelihood for OBCs & DNTs 
PM-YASASVI provides pre-matric, post-matric, and top-class school/college scholarships directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. 30% of seats are reserved for girls. 
PM-DAKSH has trained over 2.08 lakh people since 2020-21 with free certified skilling for SC, OBC, EBC, DNT, and sanitation workers. 
SEED scheme provided free coaching to 4,485 DNT students and 73,569 Ayushman Bharat health cards in 2025-26.

5. Empowering Minorities and Sanitation Workers 
PM VIKAS, launched in 2023, integrates 5 older schemes to provide industry-linked skills in fields like airline cabin crew, graphic design, and drone engineering. As of 10 June 2026, 12,429 candidates have been trained out of 73,200 enrolled. 
NAMASTE scheme, launched in 2023-24, promotes mechanized cleaning and ensures dignity and safety for sanitation workers. Waste pickers were included from June 2024.

6. Aspirational Districts Transforming 
In Lakhipur, Assam, mobile medical units and boat camps achieved 100% screening for diabetes and hypertension among 25,308 targeted people from April 2023 to Dec 2024. 
In Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, the 'Virucare' digital portal for tracking high-risk pregnancies helped bring the maternal mortality rate down to zero between April 2023 and March 2024.

Reporter Di’s Note: 
The report states that the gap between public policy and marginalized groups that existed before 2014 is now reducing. Deprived communities are no longer at the periphery but at the center of India’s growth story, and feel included in the vision of 'Viksit Bharat@2047'.