Adi Karmayogi Lab: In a significant step toward inclusive development and last-mile service delivery, the 4th Adi Karmayogi Regional Process Lab (RPL) was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar. This week-long programme, held under the flagship Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), aims to equip frontline tribal functionaries with the tools and knowledge to drive responsive, people-centric governance.
The Regional Process Lab was inaugurated by Minister Shri Nityananda Gond, Minister of SC & ST Development, Minorities and Backward Class Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The event was graced by the presence of senior dignitaries, Shri Manoj Ahuja, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, Shri Manish Thakur, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Shri B. Parameswaran, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, ST & SC Development Department, Odisha, Ms. Manasi Nimbhal, IAS, Director (ST), Government of Odisha, Ms. Samidha Singh, Director, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The programme brings together 25 selected participants from Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha, and is facilitated by the Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF).
Adi Karmayogi: Responsive Governance Rooted in Tribal Realities
The Adi Karmayogi – Responsive Governance Programme is a pioneering initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to build the capacity of tribal frontline workers and government functionaries at the state, district, block, and village levels. It seeks to strengthen:
- Effective implementation of welfare schemes
- Convergence across departments such as Health, Education, Women & Child Development, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, and Forests
- Participatory learning and community engagement
- Transparent and accountable governance mechanisms
The Regional Process Lab (RPL) in Odisha is part of a cascading model of capacity building. The trained State Master Trainers (SMTs) will lead State and District Process Labs, ensuring contextual and localized knowledge dissemination.
Leadership Voices: A Collective Call for Transformation
Delivering the inaugural address, Hon’ble Minister Shri Nityananda Gond emphasized, “Under the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan has been launched to ensure basic services reach every tribal household. The Adi Karmayogi programme is crucial for empowering the service providers who must deliver on that promise. Participants must take this mission forward at the district and block levels.”
Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja stressed the power of inter-departmental convergence, “Convergence can accelerate change in tribal regions. Every department must work in collaboration to ensure responsive, holistic development.”
Shri B. Parameswaran, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, stated, “Responsive governance is not a one-time intervention, it must align public service delivery with the lived experiences and needs of tribal communities.”
Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, joined virtually and congratulated participants, “You are the agents of change who will carry forward crucial knowledge about Central and State government schemes to the grassroots. This seven-day Process Lab is a life-changing opportunity to rethink how governance is delivered.” He called for committed leadership from the participants and emphasized community-responsive policymaking as key to impactful change.
A Collaborative Framework for Tribal Empowerment
The Adi Karmayogi Programme is designed to foster collaboration among government functionaries, civil society organizations, and tribal communities. The presence of institutions like Population Services International (PSI) and BRLF ensures civil society participation in building contextual, culturally rooted learning systems.
The Bhubaneswar RPL marks another milestone in the Government of India’s mission to create a cadre of 20 lakh tribal change leaders who will lead the nation toward Viksit Bharat by 2047
