Bengaluru: In a landmark step toward achieving Viksit Bharat @2047, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the first Regional Process Lab (RPL) of the Aadi KARMAYOGI – National Mission for Responsive Governance. This pioneering initiative aims to build a dynamic cadre of 20 lakh tribal grassroots functionaries and village-level change leaders, who will drive inclusive development and strengthen last-mile service delivery in tribal areas.
The RPL, hosted at Hotel Royal Orchid Central, Bengaluru, marks the operational kickoff of this ambitious national mission. It serves as a strategic capacity-building hub, training State Master Trainers (SMTs) from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The launch was symbolically held on Guru Purnima, underscoring the spiritual significance of nurturing a new generation of grassroots “Gurus” committed to transforming governance through wisdom, empathy, and action.
Reimagining Governance at the Grassroots
Aadi KARMAYOGI is more than a programme—it is a call to action to reimagine governance from the bottom up, rooted in India’s tribal ethos and led by local champions. Aligned with flagship initiatives such as PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA, the mission heralds the next chapter in governance innovation—built on the pillars of convergence, community, and capability.
It represents governance with both soul and structure—where aspirations of tribal youth meet responsive institutions, and where policy reaches people with dignity, timeliness, and purpose.
Voices of Vision and Commitment
Shri Jual Oram, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, “Aadi Karmayogi is a game-changer for tribal India. It represents the spirit of Seva, Sankalp, and Samarpan—a true embodiment of Antyodaya. Through this cadre of two million change leaders, we are institutionalizing dignity, accountability, and service delivery in the most remote corners of our country. This is how Viksit Bharat will be built—from the grassroots upward.”
Shri Durgadas Uikey, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, “This Abhiyan is not just about governance—it is about restoring pride, identity, and voice to our tribal communities. Trained Aadi Karmayogi will become an agent of hope and transformation.”
Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, described the Abhiyan as a “historic opportunity” to create a new paradigm of responsive tribal governance. He emphasized the need for localized, context-specific solutions supported by inter-departmental convergence. Urging SMTs to become “pioneers of change,” he envisioned them as catalysts for empowering tribal communities and bridging the last-mile governance gap.
Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, welcomed participants and praised the Abhiyan as a “timely and transformative intervention” in the tribal development landscape. She underscored the importance of culturally grounded and locally resonant programmes. Karnataka, she affirmed, will extend full institutional support through training infrastructure such as SIRD Mysore, Extension Training Centres, and Panchayat-level facilities to empower SMTs and DMTs.
Shri Randeep D., Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Karnataka, highlighted Karnataka’s strong record in implementing flagship schemes like PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA. While acknowledging significant progress, he noted that the Aadi KARMAYOGI mission would help close the critical last-mile delivery gap through a robust, cadre-based capacity-building model.
Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, called Bengaluru a “hub of innovation” and described launch of Aadi KARMAYOGI as a convergence-driven innovative governance model aligned with the Prime Minister’s Mission Karmayogi vision on most apt day of Guru Purnima as Adi Karmayogis would be Gurus to bring transformation in the tribal welfare governance system. He emphasized the dual role of SMTs as learners and leaders and celebrated the cultural richness of India’s tribal communities as an essential element of governance excellence.
Smt. Athira Babu, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, referred to the RPL as a “melting pot of grassroots wisdom” poised to drive systemic transformation. Tracing the evolution of tribal missions—from PM-JANMAN (Whole of Government) to DAJGUA (Whole of Society), and now Aadi KARMAYOGI (Whole of Nation)—she called for integration across departments to dismantle silos and deliver coordinated outcomes.
Tmt G. Laxmi Priya ,Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Tamil Nadu, reaffirmed the commitment to bring all tribal villages in the state under the Aadi KARMAYOGI fold. He emphasized the power of convergence, grassroots participation, and co-creation in designing responsive, inclusive tribal policies.
Aadi KARMAYOGI: A Mission for Every Stakeholder
The Aadi KARMAYOGI Mission promotes responsive governance through bottom-up visioning, real-time grievance redressal, and collaborative implementation. It is built on convergence across key ministries and departments, including Tribal Affairs, Rural Development, Women & Child Development, Jal Shakti, School Education, and Forests.
The Regional Process Lab (RPL) in Bengaluru is the first of many capacity-building hubs in a cascading model. SMTs trained here will lead State Process Labs (SPLs), which will, in turn, train District Master Trainers (DMTs). The programme also integrates civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen participatory learning and local contextualization.
Celebrating Change Agents at the Aadikarita National Meet
To honour innovation, service, and commitment, the Ministry will soon host the “Aadikarita National Meet”, where outstanding SMTs and DMTs will be recognized as India’s tribal empowerment champions—true Karmayogis of governance transformation.