SRINAGAR: The Union Government has approved projects worth Rs 59.23 crore for Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), covering education, tribal infrastructure and basic services across the Union Territory, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said the Centre issued a mother sanction of Rs 39.21 crore in 2025-26 and Rs 20.02 crore in 2026-27 under DAJGUA. Jammu and Kashmir has reported expenditure of Rs 13.85 crore during the current financial year up to July 31, 2026.
The Minister said district-wise releases are not maintained under the scheme as funds are transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir Government through a single mother sanction under the SNA-SPARSH model, with utilisation carried out in accordance with approved annual action plans.
According to the Ministry, the programme covers 20 districts, 112 blocks and 393 tribal villages in Jammu and Kashmir, benefiting a population of 7.92 lakh, including 91,072 Scheduled Tribe households. Rajouri has the highest coverage with 104 villages, followed by Poonch with 58 villages and Reasi with 44 villages.
Approved works include the establishment of Tribal Multi-purpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) in Ganderbal, Kupwara, Reasi, Poonch and Rajouri, construction of additional classrooms, hostels, staff quarters, toilet blocks, classroom furniture, major repairs and renovations of educational institutions, and the setting up of Forest Rights Act (FRA) Cells in all districts.
The government said the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, launched on October 2, 2024, seeks to bridge infrastructure gaps in 63,843 tribal villages across 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States and Union Territories over five years through 25 interventions implemented by 17 ministries.
The Ministry added that convergence under the scheme spans drinking water, education, health, roads, electricity, livelihoods and digital connectivity. Implementation is monitored through inter-ministerial review meetings, State and district-level reviews, Project Management Units and a technology-enabled monitoring framework on the PM GatiShakti Portal to track progress in real time.
