Union Minister Arjun Munda Initiates Transformative Partnerships for Tribal Development

New Delhi: Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, led the launch of groundbreaking partnerships for tribal development in New Delhi today. Esteemed institutions like the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi joined hands with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). Letters of Intent were exchanged, formalizing partnerships in key areas.

These collaborations aim to focus on Indigenous Practices, Telemedicine & Tribal Health, Training & Capacity Building, Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer, Patent, IPR, Digitization through Satellites, and the use of Industry 4.0 Technologies (AI/ML, AR/VR) for tribal issues.

In his address, Arjun Munda emphasized the significance of these collaborations, citing ISRO’s role in connecting remote areas, AIIMS Delhi’s initiatives for tribal health, and the educational prowess of IISc Bengaluru and IIT Delhi. He expressed confidence that the program would yield positive outcomes for tribal development.

Munda stated, “The past decade has witnessed significant decisions by our government in empowering tribal communities across India. Initiatives such as PM-JANMAN and Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra were launched in Khunti district, Jharkhand, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, an iconic freedom fighter from the Tribal Community.”

Initiatives Launched During the Event:

Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health, Hematology & Telemedicine at AIIMS, Delhi:

Aiming to enhance support for tribal health, this chair will focus on advanced research and teaching on tribal health issues.
Special emphasis on sickle cell anaemia to inform policy-making decisions.
Capacity-building programs for medical professionals, including last-mile caregivers.
Establishment of a telemedicine facility for guidance to medical practitioners in the field.
Training in Semi-conductor Fab at IISc Bangalore:

IISc proposes to establish a training facility for educating Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in semiconductor courses.
Providing NSQF-certified level 6.0 & 6.5 training to 2100 students.
Collaboration with companies for student placements in the industry.
Exposure programs on the semiconductor sector for school and diploma students.
Collaboration with ISRO to Establish V-SAT Stations:

Partnering with ISRO to establish V-SAT stations at 80 villages in 4 states on a pilot basis.
Offering Wi-Fi capacity of 100 Mbps to enhance connectivity and access to essential services for tribal communities.
Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair at IIT Delhi for Tribal Entrepreneurship, Technology & Innovation:

Aiming to develop a nationwide entrepreneurship ecosystem for tribal youth.
Providing comprehensive support for tribal youth entrepreneurs.
Offering mentorship, research and development, awareness drives, and workshops in tribal areas.
Creating a sustainable social impact through tribal enterprises/startups.

During the event, Munda also launched a coffee table book on PM JANMAN, a booklet on DAPST (Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes), and a booklet highlighting the 10-year achievements of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.