First Health Centre Brings Accessible Healthcare to Tribal PVTG Communities in Remote Paatalkot Valley
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
In a landmark step toward last-mile delivery, the first health centre in the remote Paatalkot valley (Chhindwara district, MP) was inaugurated on 27 September 2025 by Dr. Rashmi Choudhary, Assistant Commissioner, NESTS. The area, home to Gond and Bharia tribes and classified as a PVTG cluster, had long lacked access to healthcare, with villagers trekking miles for even basic services. Under flagship central schemes like Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Janman Yojana, and Dharti Abba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, the government says progress had already been made in housing, roads, electricity, schooling and livelihoods.
On site, officials noted that although the Ayushman Arogya Kendra building existed, it had not begun operations. Dr. Choudhary directed immediate activation of services, and as of inauguration evening, the facility became functional.
This intervention strengthens the “last-mile” health access goal for tribal and remote communities, aligning with India’s national health equity goals and tribal welfare mandates under Tribal Sub-Plan/Vanbandhu Kalyan (TVK) frameworks. It also demonstrates how integrated ministry schemes can be leveraged to address multi-dimensional deprivation (health + infrastructure + education + livelihoods).
What is PVTG? → Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are tribal communities with pre-agriculture level technology, low literacy, and declining or stagnant populations. Their classification prioritises they receive focused developmental support.
What are TVK, Aadi Karmayogi, PM-JANMAN and Dharti Abba Abhiyan?
→ TVK (Tribal Sub-Plan/Vanbandhu Kalyan) is the overarching convergence framework ensuring all ministries align their schemes in tribal areas. Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan works inside this framework by building accountable local governance and empowering tribal communities to co-design solutions. PM-JANMAN channels resources specifically into the most deprived PVTGs, addressing critical service gaps with a targeted ₹24,104 crore mission. Dharti Abba Abhiyan scales the same convergence logic to ~63,000 villages, with a saturation model across health, education, and livelihoods. Together, these schemes form a ladder:
policy architecture (TVK) → capacity building (Aadi Karmayogi) → focused equity for the most vulnerable (PM-JANMAN) → broad tribal coverage (Dharti Abba).
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can this model of activating dormant health facilities be systematically replicated across other deeply remote PVTG areas to reduce travel burden and health inequity?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2172396