New Delhi: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs on Monday launched the Adi Yuva Fellowship, supported by the United Nations in India, to empower tribal youth through structured learning, mentorship, and career development, officials said.

The first-of-its-kind initiative will select 16 Fellows through a competitive process and place them with UN agencies at the national, state, and district levels.

According to an official statement, the Fellows will undertake a 12-month paid programme with a tailored learning plan combining knowledge-building, on-the-job experience, and reflective practice. They will also receive monthly allowances, health and life insurance, and access to high-quality UN and commercial learning platforms.

The fellowship will be linked to national skilling and employability schemes such as PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, and the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, creating pathways to long-term careers. Participants will further benefit from mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and exposure to national and international platforms.

The ministry also launched the Adi Karmayogi Volunteers Programme under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated on September 17 as part of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (2024–25).

Supported by UNFPA, the volunteers’ initiative aims to equip tribal youth as grassroots change agents and strengthen last-mile service delivery in tribal regions. So far, 82 UN Community Volunteers have been deployed as Adi Karmayogi Volunteers across 82 blocks in 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for a two-month intensive engagement.

The broader Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan seeks to directly engage 110 million citizens in 100,000 tribal-dominated villages across 550 districts in 30 states and union territories. Rooted in the principles of responsive, accountable, and citizen-centric governance, the Abhiyan is positioned as a foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047.

As part of the campaign, the Adi Sewa Parv (September 17–October 2, 2025) is underway, during which tribal communities and government officials will jointly prepare Tribal Village Vision 2030 Action Plans to chart inclusive development pathways.

IANS