For decades, the first citizens of Bharat, our tribal communities, remained at the margins, their voices muffled, their concerns ignored, and their cultural pride overlooked. While governments came and went, promises were made and broken, the tribal heartlands of India waited silently, not for charity, but for justice, dignity, and rightful participation in the nation’s journey.
No longer.
In a first-of-its-kind, historic step, the Government of India has launched the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA), an unprecedented tribal outreach and empowerment campaign aimed at connecting directly with over 5.5 crore tribal citizens across one lakh tribal villages and PVTG habitations. Orchestrated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, DAJA isn’t just a campaign; it is a movement of inclusion, a celebration of culture, and a resounding reassurance to every tribal household that “You are not forgotten. You are not behind. You belong.”
The campaign is named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the fearless tribal icon who stood against colonial oppression and whose legacy is etched in the soil and spirit of Jharkhand and beyond. Fondly remembered as Dharti Aaba, the Father of the Earth, Birsa Munda symbolised resistance, pride, and self-respect. In invoking his name, the government is sending a powerful message to tribal communities that the ancestors are not footnotes in history; they are its authors.
From June 15 to July 15, 2025, over 550 districts across 31 states and UTs are witnessing something extraordinary, a sea of government camps surging through forested villages, remote hamlets, and hilly terrains, bringing with them not just welfare schemes but hope, recognition, and belonging. The initiative, rolled out as part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, is saturating the last mile with critical services: Aadhaar registrations, health cards under Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala gas connections, financial inclusion through Jan Dhan, and much more.
In a mere nine days of launch, DAJA has created a huge impact. More than 22,000 tribal empowerment camps have been hosted, covering over 53 lakh tribal citizens. These camps have also emerged as a service delivery hub, where different entitlements and welfare schemes are delivered effectively and in a broad-based manner. As per the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, over 1.38 lakh individuals have been registered for Aadhaar, over 1.68 lakh Ayushman Bharat cards have been distributed, and over 46,000 farmers have been registered under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Besides, more than 22,000 beneficiaries have been enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, and over 32,000 new accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
This large-scale campaign is an amalgamation of services and a model of community-driven governance. Apart from Aadhaar registration and health and financial inclusion services, the campaign also enables pension registration, FRA claims, nutritional benefits, tribal start-up benefits, and legal aid accessibility. These services are being provided through a one-window, camp-based system, allowing effective administration and increased transparency.
The campaign rests on five strategic pillars that make it a model for subsequent governance templates. These pillars are Janbhagidari (community leadership and involvement), Saturation (all eligible households being provided entitlements), Cultural Inclusion (connecting through tribal languages and arts), Convergence (multi-agency alignment involving ministries, CSOs, and youth networks), and Last-Mile Delivery (reaching services into the remotest hamlets).
A.cid has been introduced by a number of states and affiliated territories with several high-profile leaders initiating or endorsing the campaign, which has gained immense traction and visibility. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman went to Rongo village in Ladakh’s Changthang area and encouraged millet nutrition in tribal communities. Governor Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel initiated the campaign in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, integrating service delivery with traditional cultural performances.
In the Northeast, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has inaugurated DAJA in Guwahati, terming it as a new turning point for tribal development in the region. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated several tribal camps with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. In Andhra Pradesh, special focus was given to weaker forest-dwelling tribal communities during the launch ceremony in Parvathipuram, Manyam district. Simultaneously in Kerala, a Tribal Conclave was held in Wayanad to engage district-level functionaries and civil society players in planning and evaluation.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram portrayed the campaign not only as a government exercise but as a mass movement of equity and dignity. He asserted that the initiative was a tribute to tribal societies that have never once been out of tune with nature and whose voices need to be at the core of India’s development process. Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey observed the growing engagement of tribal youth and women, which he termed as an indication of growing aspiration and empowerment.
Ministry Secretary Shri Vibhu Nayar highlighted the point that DAJA is bringing in new standards in governance with its application of real-time digital dashboards, cultural renaissance programs, and integration of services. As per him, this campaign not only addresses logistical complexities but also redefines citizen participation via a bottom-up model.
The outreach element of DAJA has also made it a genuine people’s campaign. Over 3,000 blocks have been activated and there has been participation recorded by more than 700 tribal communities, including 75 PVTGs. Youth organisations like MY Bharat, NSS, tribal student organisations, and volunteers have played an active role in community mobilisation and service facilitation. Simultaneously, tribal cultural programs, cuisine festivals, folk dance displays, and handicraft shows are being held all over the country to give a sense of pride and celebrate tribal heritage.
The Ministry has made an open appeal to all citizens, students, volunteers, and journalism professionals to join this campaign. Individuals are being urged to go to the Jan Seva camps, create awareness on tribal development, and raise the voice of tribes through narration, videos, and social media.
The hashtags that have been officially promoted are #DhartiAabaJanbhagidariAbhiyan, #EmpoweringTribalsViksitBharat, #JanJatiyaGauravVarsh, and #PMJANMAN. Through these platforms, the campaign is creating a strong digital presence that captures the vibrancy and resilience of tribes.
The DAJA campaign forms a critical part of the government’s overall vision of a Viksit Bharat, or Developed India. It reiterates the pledge to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas by putting tribal citizens at the centre of national development. In addition to welfare delivery, the campaign seeks to strengthen tribal identities, safeguard indigenous knowledge systems, and weave traditional wisdom into India’s growth narrative.
Finally, the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan is more than a policy initiative. It is a people’s revolution. It is a celebration of tribal pride, restoration of cultural heritage, and a strong movement towards participatory and inclusive governance. It is a change in imagining, planning, and implementing governance, not for the people, but with them.
Under the visionary leadership of the NDA government, a new chapter is being written. A chapter that does not begin with pity, but with pride. A chapter that places tribal identity, aspirations, and dignity at the very centre of governance.
