PM-JANMAN: Tribal hamlet gets power supply for first time

PM-JANMAN scheme brings electricity to Karnataka tribal hamlet after 75 years, part of ₹7,000 crore projects for PVTGs.

A tribal hamlet in Karnataka's Mysuru has received electricity supply for the first time, thanks to the PM-JANMAN scheme which aims to provide basic facilities to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in the country.

Situated on the fringes of the Hediyala range of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the hamlet was recently connected to the power grid of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC), the Tribal Affairs Ministry said on March 8.

While nearby villages had power connections, a portion of the tribal hamlet remained without electricity. It took 75 years to provide power supply, according to the ministry's statement.

Muzib, a Gram Panchayat member, said the 20 families have been living in sheds without power for generations.

Though houses were constructed for them 15 to 20 years ago, power supply was not provided for some reason. Despite many requests, power lines were not drawn to fix the issue, he said.

Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said the government has sanctioned projects worth more than ₹7,000 crore in the last three months under the PM-JANMAN scheme which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs.

Approved by the Union Cabinet on November 29 last year, the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) has a budget of around ₹24,000 crore and focuses on 11 critical interventions through nine ministries to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities.