Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Launches ₹80,000 Crore 'Dharti Aaba' Tribal Development Mission In Palghar
Palghar: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the nationwide ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ in Palghar on June 15. The campaign, named after tribal icon Birsa Munda (revered as Dharti Aaba), is aimed at the holistic development of tribal villages across India.
With an allocation of ₹80,000 crore, the scheme is the largest of its kind in Indian history focused on tribal welfare. In Maharashtra, 32 districts, including Palghar, will benefit. Specifically, 635 tribal villages in Palghar district are included under the initiative.
25 Schemes, One Vision
Under the Dharti Aaba scheme, 25 central and state-level schemes across 17 departments will be integrated to provide tribal communities access to essential services such as:
- All-weather roads
- Household electricity and drinking water
- Cooking gas connections
- Health and nutrition services
- Education and employment opportunities
Villages with either 500+ tribal population or where 50% of residents are tribal will be included. In districts like Palghar and Gadchiroli, even smaller tribal settlements (with just 50 individuals) will be eligible.
CM Fadnavis stated, “This mission ensures the long-overdue justice to tribal communities through infrastructure and dignity. It’s a landmark step in inclusive governance.”
Skill Development to Begin in All 735 Government Schools
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced that all 735 government schools in Palghar will soon offer vocational training courses aligned with local employment needs, especially for upcoming projects like Vadhavan Port.
He also participated in the virtual inauguration of the new school buildings in Mokhada and Wada and multi-purpose centres in Raitale and Aptale under the PM Janman scheme.
Additionally, a MoU was signed between the Skill Development Department and Vadhavan Port Pvt. Ltd. to promote skill training and entrepreneurship.
Major Investment and Employment Boost
Forest Minister and Palghar District Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik announced that ₹3 lakh crore will be invested in Palghar in the coming years, creating an estimated 10 lakh job opportunities. The Forest Department also aims to plant 11 crore trees across the state, with a long-term goal of 250 crore trees in 4.5 years.
“The district will also be developed as a plastic-free and odour-free region,” said Naik, outlining a greener, cleaner Palghar.
CM Visits ZP School, Bats for Tech-Based Quality Education
On June 16, CM Fadnavis visited the Zilla Parishad School in Durves, Palghar, to mark the start of the 2025–26 academic year. He formally welcomed newly enrolled students by distributing uniforms and textbooks and participated in a tree plantation drive in the school’s medicinal garden.
In an interaction with parents, the CM received a positive feedback. Parents praised the dedication of teachers and the integration of digital tools that have improved learning outcomes. One parent shared, “Our children are now more engaged in studies thanks to digital boards and modern methods.”
Fadnavis lauded the collaborative efforts of teachers, education officers, and parents in achieving this success.
‘100 School Visits’ Initiative to Boost Attendance and Quality
On June 16 and 17, ministers, MLAs, and senior officials will visit 142 schools in Palghar district to engage directly with school communities and foster improved educational outcomes. The goal is to enhance attendance, accountability, and quality learning.
The launch events and school visit were attended by several dignitaries and officials, including Naik, Former Minister Ravindra Chavan, MP Dr. Hemant Sawra, MLAs Vilas Tare, Rajan Naik, Rajendra Gavit, Niranjan Davkhare, Principal Secretary I.N. Kundan, School Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratapsingh, Palghar Collector Dr. Indurani Jakhar, CEO Manoj Ranade, Additional CEO Ravindra Shinde and Primary Education Officer Sonali Matekar.
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