SRINAGAR: Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Prasanna G. Ramaswamy, on Wednesday highlighted the key components and financial progress of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA), stating that the scheme operates through two primary funding components. Under the first, direct funding by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, proposals worth Rs 877.10 lakh have been approved for 2024–25. This includes Rs 500.00 lakh earmarked for the establishment of five Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) across Jammu and Kashmir.
He was speaking during the first Apex Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to review the implementation of the DA-JGUA in the Union Territory. The meeting marked a significant step towards ensuring equitable and inclusive development for tribal communities in the region.
The Secretary also noted that Rs 377.10 lakh has been allocated for establishing Forest Rights Act Cells—one at the Union Territory level and twenty at the district level. These will manage FRA claims and oversee implementation of Community Forest Resource (CFR) Management Plans.
The second component of the scheme draws funding through allocations made under the Developmental Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)/Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) from various Union Ministries. Eligible villages must either have a population of 500 or more with at least 50% Scheduled Tribe population or belong to aspirational districts with 50 or more ST residents.
The Chief Secretary directed Deputy Commissioners to conduct ground-truthing of the preliminary gap analysis across 25 critical indicators—ranging from housing and roads to education, healthcare, and market access. He called for time-bound preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to address verified gaps and stressed the need for accuracy in data collection to ensure meaningful and sustainable interventions.
Dulloo emphasised that the benefits of DA-JGUA must reach every tribal settlement and instructed personal oversight by Deputy Commissioners in their districts. “Reliable data and swift implementation can result in transformative change in the lives of tribal communities,” he said.
Seventeen Union Ministries are jointly working under DA-JGUA to fill the identified gaps through schemes like PMAY-G, PMGSY, Jal Jeevan Mission, Poshan Abhiyan, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and others, aiming to saturate tribal areas with essential services.
The Apex Committee also reviewed the alignment of verified gaps with departmental actions at the UT level. The mission’s next phase will include Information-Education-Communication (IEC) campaigns, baseline assessments, and department-wise proposals to tap into relevant ministry funding under DAPST.
Launched in 2024, DA-JGUA is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at holistic development of tribal areas through a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.
