Aadi Karmayogi Launches 2nd Regional Lab to Empower Tribal Governance

In a milestone effort to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the second Regional Process Lab (RPL) under the Aadi Karmayogi – National Mission for Responsive Governance on 22 July 2025 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The week-long lab aims to create a transformative impact on tribal governance and last-mile service delivery, building a cadre of over 2 million grassroots-level change agents.

The launch was attended by key government leaders and policymakers, including Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region (DONER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who emphasized the region’s potential in crafting India’s governance transformation story. The RPL brought together officials from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh, marking a convergence of states and stakeholders in strengthening tribal-centric development.

Aadi Karmayogi: Governance Rooted in Culture and Community

Described as more than a governance reform initiative, Aadi Karmayogi represents a bottom-up approach grounded in the values, knowledge systems, and cultural richness of India’s tribal communities. Aligned with flagship programs such as PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) and DAJGUA (Development Action for Janjatiya Governance and Upliftment Abhiyan), it seeks to reimagine governance with soul and structure.

The mission integrates convergence, community ownership, and capability building to empower frontline workers—referred to as State Master Trainers (SMTs) and District Master Trainers (DMTs)—to become agents of transformation in tribal regions.

Key Highlights from the Inaugural Session in Bhopal

Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the chief guest, called on tribal functionaries to leverage India’s indigenous governance traditions and play a defining role in realizing sustainable, inclusive development. He echoed Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of “Fashion for Environment and Empowerment”, positioning tribal heritage and eco-friendly practices as central to India’s socio-economic transformation.

Shri Girish Prabhune, President of Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), lauded the mission as a “timely and transformative intervention” and emphasized the need to harness culturally rooted skills and community-led development strategies in tribal-dominant regions.

Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah, Hon’ble Minister of Tribal Welfare, Madhya Pradesh, underscored the role of infrastructure and training facilities in scaling up the initiative. He affirmed institutional support through Extension Training Centers and panchayat-level facilities to build a robust cadre of tribal governance leaders.

Convergence Across States and Institutions

Senior officials from multiple states and the Centre voiced unanimous support for the mission:

• Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, called it a “historic opportunity” to build a new paradigm of localized, responsive governance, urging SMTs to serve as catalysts of change and community empowerment.

• Shri L. Vekateshwarlu, Additional Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, and Shri Sonmani Borah, Principal Secretary, Chhattisgarh, emphasized how the mission would fill the critical last-mile delivery gap in schemes like PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.

• Shri Gulshan Bamra, Principal Secretary, Madhya Pradesh, praised the commitment of tribal welfare officials and stressed the need for unified implementation across departments to ensure outcomes that are both culturally sensitive and impactful.

Institutional Framework: A Cadre-Based Capacity Building Model

The Regional Process Lab (RPL) operates as a training nucleus, preparing State Master Trainers, who will then set up State Process Labs (SPLs) and mentor District Master Trainers (DMTs). This cascading model ensures:

• Scalable training and deployment of tribal change leaders

• Inter-departmental coordination for effective program delivery

• Community engagement through participatory governance tools

A critical component is the integration of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to ensure contextualization, knowledge sharing, and community participation. These partnerships aim to turn tribal functionaries into grassroots innovators capable of leading responsive governance.

Building Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

The Aadi Karmayogi mission marks a shift from top-down administration to collaborative, bottom-up implementation, tailored to tribal realities. It advances the spirit of 'Antyodaya'—uplifting the last citizen—and ensures that policy reaches the people with dignity, timeliness, and purpose.

Seven such Regional Process Labs are planned across India between July and August 2025, establishing a national movement of tribal empowerment, convergence-driven governance, and institutional responsiveness.

In his closing remarks, Shri Jafar Malik, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, described the RPL as a “melting pot of grassroots wisdom”, tracing the evolution from Whole-of-Government (PM-JANMAN) to Whole-of-Society (DAJGUA) and now Whole-of-Nation (Aadi Karmayogi) governance models.

A Mission for Every Stakeholder

Aadi Karmayogi aims to bring together various ministries, including:

• Ministry of Rural Development

• Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Ministry of Women & Child Development

• Ministry of Education

• Ministry of Environment and Forests

By promoting convergence, capability, and community participation, the mission represents India’s boldest step yet in building a grassroots-driven, inclusive, and empowered governance ecosystem for its tribal citizens.