Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram

Let’s begin with a very basic question — What happens when certain regions or communities are consistently left behind in development? It creates a development deficit — not just in terms of infrastructure, but also in access to education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and dignity. Recognizing this, the Government of India initiated a scheme with a targeted approach: the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).

Background and Evolution

To understand PMJVK better, let’s trace its roots.

• Originally launched in 2008-09 as the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), it aimed to bridge development gaps in areas with a significant minority population.
• In 2017-18, this programme was restructured and renamed as PMJVK — giving it a renewed mandate and sharper focus.
• In 2022, further modifications were introduced. Now, States and UTs are empowered to propose infrastructure projects in identified areas where minority concentration exceeds 25% within a 15-kilometre radius (termed as the “catchment area”).

📝 Note: PMJVK is now classified by NITI Aayog as a Core of the Core Scheme under the National Development Agenda — highlighting its strategic importance.

Objective and Purpose

At its core, PMJVK is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme designed for:

✅ Socio-economic development of regions that suffer from a development deficit, particularly Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs).
✅ Reducing regional imbalances by providing basic amenities and building infrastructure that supports inclusive growth.

⏳ Timeline: The current implementation cycle is from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

🌍 Coverage: It spans all districts of the country, including the Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog.

Who Benefits?

The scheme specifically targets minority communities as notified under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992:

• Muslims
• Christians
• Sikhs
• Buddhists
• Jains
• Parsis (Zoroastrians)

However — and this is crucial — the infrastructure created under PMJVK is not exclusive. It is open for use by all communities living in the catchment area, making it a truly inclusive initiative.

Key Features and Strategic Approach

Let’s try to understand the main features and approach of this scheme:

✅ Demand-Driven Assistance

• Financial assistance is demand-based.
• Focus is on creating community assets (like schools, health centres, skill hubs).

✅ Infrastructure for All

• While the scheme is minority-centric in terms of focus areas, assets are shared with the broader population, ensuring social harmony.

✅ Thrust Areas

Around 80% of the total resources are reserved for key priority sectors, which include:

1. Education
2. Health
3. Skill Development
4. Women-Centric Projects
5. Emerging sectors of national importance, such as:
   • Sports
   • Sanitation
   • Solar Energy

Women Empowerment: A Strong Sub-Focus

An important highlight of PMJVK is its commitment to gender equity.

• At least 33–40% of funds must be used for creating assets and facilities for women and girls.
• These may include hostels for girls, women’s training centres, sanitary infrastructure, etc.

This aligns with the broader government vision of empowering women through access to education, skills, and safety.

Convergence with PM VIKAS

PMJVK does not operate in isolation. It is being converged with the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS) scheme, especially in areas where traditional artisans and craftspeople reside (called Vishwakarma villages).

• So, if a community has a legacy of craftsmanship — say handloom, woodwork, or blacksmithing — then PMJVK can fund physical infrastructure (training centres, workshops, etc.) to support their livelihood and skill development under the PM VIKAS framework.

Monitoring and Implementation

In the digital age, transparency and monitoring are crucial. For that, the government has launched a dedicated mobile application:

📱 PMJVK Bhuvan App

• Developed by ISRO and other agencies,
• Used to Geo-tag all assets created under the scheme,
• Captures project-specific data including photos from different stages of construction,
• Ensures real-time monitoring and accountability.

Operational Flexibility for States

Here’s something often missed in analysis — the scheme gives flexibility to States/UTs.

• Funds are not tied to specific projects. This allows states to prioritize according to local needs, ensuring optimal use and context-specific interventions.

✍️ Conclusion: Why PMJVK Matters for UPSC

From the UPSC perspective, PMJVK is a minority-focused, infrastructure-based, and demand-driven scheme that:

• Aims to achieve inclusive growth by addressing development deficits.
• Promotes gender empowerment, community harmony, and skill-building.
• Reflects India’s constitutional values of equity, secularism, and social justice.

It is a perfect example of how governance in India balances targeted interventions with universal access, and how the state attempts to ensure “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” on the ground — not just in slogans.