Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA): India’s Largest Tribal Empowerment Drive

Context:

The Government of India has launched Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA) — an unprecedented tribal empowerment drive across 1 lakh+ tribal villages in 31 States/UTs.

What is DAJA?

• Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA) is a nationwide tribal outreach initiative named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal freedom fighter.
• Launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, it aims to saturate government welfare schemes among Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Objective: Empower over 5.5 crore tribal citizens through active people’s participation (Janbhagidari).

Key Features

• Coverage: Over 1 lakh tribal villages and PVTG habitations in 31 States/UTs.
• Janbhagidari Model: Community involvement in governance and implementation.
• Five Pillars of DAJA:
  1. Janbhagidari (People’s Participation)
  2. Saturation of Schemes
  3. Cultural Inclusion
  4. Convergence of Government Services
  5. Last-Mile Delivery
• Schemes Integrated: Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat, PM Kisan, Jan Dhan, PM Ujjwala, pension schemes, Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims.
• Tech Integration: Real-time dashboard monitoring for transparency and accountability.
• Cultural Components: Celebration of tribal food, art, dance, and handicrafts at village camps to revive cultural pride.

PIB