A door to a housing scheme, tribals find hard to open

Relevance: GS Paper II 

Why in News?

PVTGs and frontline officials face challenges in using a mobile application to register for the ‘Housing scheme’, the biggest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in the PM JANMAN. The scheme aims to reach 4.90 lakh PVTG households by 2026.

Background on PVTGs:

PVTGs are among the most marginalized communities in India, characterized by:

• Pre-agricultural lifestyle: Reliance on traditional methods for livelihood.
• Low literacy rates: Limited access to education.
• Economic backwardness: Severe poverty and limited economic opportunities.
• Stagnant populations: Minimal growth in their population numbers.

Government Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission (2023-24): Aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of PVTGs.
• Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN): Launched in November 2023 with a budget of ₹24,000 crore to provide essential services such as housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation to PVTGs.

PM JANMAN Housing Scheme

• Objective: To ensure every PVTG household has access to secure and habitable housing.
• Target: Reach 4.90 lakh PVTG households by 2026, with each household receiving ₹2.39 lakh in three instalments.
• Registration: Done through a mobile application (‘Awaas+’), which records the geographical location of households, noting their block, panchayat, and village; it captures household profiles, incorporating geo-tagging for planned construction locations, and then collects bank account details for cash transfers.

Challenges in Registration

• Data Mismatch: Errors in registration data, particularly discrepancies between app data and Aadhaar records, which can lead to ineligibility for benefits.

• App Usability Issues:

• Pre-populated village lists: There are discrepancies in the number of villages populated in the app and MGNREGA job cards, leading to confusion among beneficiaries and officials.
• Mandatory jobcards: Having a job card is mandatory for PM JANMAN Housing registration. However, over eight crore MGNREGA workers, including some from PVTGs, have been deleted in the past two years, making them ineligible. 
• Additionally, many beneficiaries report cases of fraudulent registrations using their job cards.
• Absence of Aadhaar guidance: The app requires the names of the family members as in Aadhaar but does not provide guidance on what name should be provided in the absence of Aadhaar.
• Lack of Specific Information on PVTGs: The app does not specifically capture detailed information about PVTGs. In the social category field, it defaults to ‘ST’ (Scheduled Tribe), which is a broader category and not exclusive to PVTGs. This means that individuals who are not part of PVTGs can also register under the Scheduled Tribe category, leading to ineligible registrations.
• Ineligible Registrations and Certification Issues: Because the app allows non-PVTGs to register, local officials have started requiring PVTGs to submit certifications from local leaders like sarpanches (village heads) or mukhiyas (village chiefs). This is intended to verify their eligibility.
• Problems with Local Leaders: In areas where PVTGs and non-PVTGs coexist, there have been instances where non-PVTG sarpanches or mukhiyas do not act in the best interest of the PVTGs. This could mean either refusing to provide the necessary certification or otherwise obstructing the registration process for PVTGs.
• Geo-tagging and Network Issues: The app’s geo-tagging feature, which is presumably intended to log the geographical location of the registrants, is causing additional problems. Network issues in remote or rural areas are causing disruptions and chaos, making the registration process even more challenging.
• Bank Selection Complexity: The app requires the enumerator to select from three bank categories: Cooperative, Commercial, or Regional Rural. Choosing a category, like Commercial, displays a long list of banks (e.g., 300+ options). Selecting a specific bank, such as the State Bank of India for Andhra Pradesh, further shows an extensive list of branches (e.g., 500+ options). 
• This lengthy process makes it unnecessarily complicated for PVTGs and officials.
• Exclusion of IPPB: The app does not include the India Post Payments Bank, despite the Government of India’s initiative to establish it to improve banking services, especially in areas with limited banking infrastructure.

Recommendations

• Streamlining the App: Simplify registration processes, update village lists, and include IPPB.
• Reinstating Jobcards: Address wrongful deletions to ensure PVTGs can register.
• Community Engagement: Proactive measures to reinstate deleted jobcards and also community engagement initiatives such as involving gram sabhas, can improve the effectiveness of the scheme.

Conclusion:

Despite many initiatives, the PVTGs have faced ongoing marginalization. The PM JANMAN scheme offers a potential avenue for significant improvement in their living conditions, provided the identified challenges are addressed effectively. This initiative could mark a positive step towards integrating PVTGs into India's development narrative, transforming their lives and ensuring they benefit from the country's growth.