For Prelims: Vantangiya Community, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, Revenue Village, Shilanyas and Lokarpan, Event, Location, Total Project Cost, New Projects (Shilanyas)
For Mains: Tribal welfare, Forest Rights Act, inclusive development, marginalised communities
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Development projects worth ₹78 crore were announced for the community.
- The Vantangiya community got forest rights in 2010 under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- Revenue village status was granted in October 2017.
- There are 23 Vantangiya villages in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts.
Why in the news?
He will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for 44 development projects worth ₹78 crore, continuing a tradition since 2006 that has brought the community into the mainstream through forest rights and revenue village status.
Summary
- Development projects worth ₹78 crore will be announced: ₹74.12 crore for 24 new projects (foundation stone) and ₹3.88 crore for 20 completed projects (inauguration).
- The Vantangiya community received forest rights in 2010 and revenue village status in October 2017, after CM Yogi took office.
Highlights
CM's Diwali with Vantangiya Community
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will celebrate Diwali with the forest-dwelling Vantangiya community at Jungle Tikonia No. 3, a tradition since 2006.
₹78 Crore Development Package
The CM will inaugurate 20 projects (₹3.88 crore) and lay foundation stones for 24 projects (₹74.12 crore) for the community's development.
From Neglect to Rights: Vantangiya Journey
The community got forest rights in 2010 and revenue village status in 2017, with 23 Vantangiya villages in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj now linked to mainstream development.
Background
The Vantangiya community, historically forest-dwellers in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur and Maharajganj regions, faced decades of neglect, lacking basic rights and amenities even 71 years after independence. CM Yogi Adityanath, first as a local MP, championed their cause, leading to the passage of the Forest Rights Act in Parliament. In 2010, the community received forest rights (patta), but revenue village status came only in October 2017, after Yogi became Chief Minister.
Key Analysis and Impact
This event is both a cultural and developmental outreach. The ₹78 crore package includes 44 projects focused on basic infrastructure: roads, electricity, water, and community facilities like an eco-park (₹4.85 crore) and a market (₹1.92 crore). The tradition strengthens the CM's bond with a marginalised community, ensuring political and social inclusion. The annual Diwali visit serves as a platform to announce welfare schemes and showcase government outreach to tribal and forest communities.
Way Forward
The model of engaging with marginalised communities through festive occasions could be replicated for other tribal groups in Uttar Pradesh. The development of 23 Vantangiya villages and 38 other forest settlements indicates a broader push for tribal welfare. The success of this initiative may influence policies for other forest-dwelling communities across India, particularly in states with similar populations.
Uttar Pradesh connection
Matters for these Uttar Pradesh exams:UPPSC 8/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Vantangiya Community
- A forest-dwelling tribal community in Uttar Pradesh, primarily in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts, historically deprived of land rights and basic amenities.
- Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
- The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which recognises the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and resources.
- Revenue Village
- A village recognised by the revenue department as a distinct administrative unit, entitling residents to government schemes, land records, and basic infrastructure.
- Shilanyas and Lokarpan
- Shilanyas is the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new project; Lokarpan is the inauguration of a completed project.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: ₹78 crore total development projects; 24 new projects (₹74.12 crore); 20 completed projects (₹3.88 crore)
- Nodal Body: Government of Uttar Pradesh
- Legal Point: Forest Rights Act, 2006
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may ask about the year the Vantangiya community received forest rights (2010) versus revenue village status (2017). They may also confuse the total project cost (₹78 crore) with the cost of new projects alone (₹74.12 crore).
Write these in mains answers
- Tribal welfare, Forest Rights Act, inclusive development, marginalised communities
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The Vantangiya are a tribal community that lived in forests without basic rights. CM Yogi Adityanath has been celebrating Diwali with them since 2006. He announced ₹78 crore for roads, electricity, and other facilities. The community got forest rights in 2010 and official village status in 2017.
- Development projects worth ₹78 crore were announced for the community.
- The Vantangiya community got forest rights in 2010 under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- Revenue village status was granted in October 2017.
- There are 23 Vantangiya villages in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts.
- Polity: Tribal welfare and Forest Rights Act
- Governance: State government schemes for marginalised communities
Related concepts: Vantangiya Community, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, Revenue Village, Shilanyas and Lokarpan
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Medium
Which Act provided the Vantangiya community with forest rights in 2010?
Explanation: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) recognises the rights of forest-dwelling communities; forest rights (patta/rights) were provided under this Act, and rights for the community were recorded in 2010.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Vantangiya community:
- 1.The community received revenue village status in October 2017.
- 2.CM Yogi Adityanath has been celebrating Diwali with them since 2017.
- 3.There are 23 Vantangiya villages in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: revenue village status was granted in October 2017 after Yogi became CM. Statement 2 is incorrect: the tradition started in 2006 when he was an MP, not 2017. Statement 3 is correct: 23 Vantangiya villages are in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj. Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Medium
What is the total value of development projects announced by CM Yogi for the Vantangiya community on Diwali 2026?
Explanation: The total package is ₹78 crore, comprising ₹74.12 crore for 24 new projects and ₹3.88 crore for 20 completed projects.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of CM Yogi's annual Diwali celebration with the Vantangiya community?
Explanation: The event focuses on bringing the Vantangiya community, historically deprived of rights and amenities, into the mainstream through development projects and recognition.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh?
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is Yogi Adityanath.
2. What is the Vantangiya community?
The Vantangiya community is a forest-dwelling tribal group in Uttar Pradesh, primarily in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts.
3. How much development money did CM Yogi announce for the Vantangiya community on Diwali 2026?
CM Yogi announced development projects worth ₹78 crore, including 24 new projects (₹74.12 crore) and 20 completed projects (₹3.88 crore).
4. When did the Vantangiya community receive revenue village status?
The Vantangiya community received revenue village status in October 2017.
All sources
- Original7 November 2026 · Read story
