SRINAGAR: The Government has allocated over Rs 3,800 crore in the last five years for the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir, as part of the ongoing efforts to uplift tribal communities across the country. In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, provided detailed insights into the funds allocated for various tribal development sectors under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).
The DAPST strategy, implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, involves a collaborative effort with 41 Ministries and Departments, which earmark a percentage of their annual budgets for tribal welfare. These funds are directed toward crucial areas such as education, health, agriculture, housing, electrification, employment generation, and skill development.
For Jammu Kashmir, the fund allocations have steadily increased over the past five years. In the financial year 2019-20, Rs 617.04 crore was released for tribal welfare, followed by Rs 319.06 crore in 2020-21. The allocations surged significantly in subsequent years, with Rs 541.48 crore in 2021-22, Rs 765.57 crore in 2022-23, and a substantial Rs 1,106.11 crore earmarked for 2023-24.
These funds are disbursed based on proposals submitted by the state and union territories, with releases contingent on the availability of resources. However, it was clarified that while the Union Government allocates the funds, the Ministries and Departments do not directly provide district-wise expenditure data, as such information is not submitted to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through the concerned authorities.
