Rs 3319 cr allocated for tribal development in J&K: GoI

Srinagar, Dec 05: Rs 3,319.26 crore has been allocated for tribal development projects in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five years as part of the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).
The details were shared by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey in Lok Sabha on Tuesday in response to query of Member of Parliament Anantnag-Rajouri Constituency Mian Altaf.
The Minister said that the government implements DAPST as a strategy to develop Scheduled Tribes and tribal-concentrated areas through education, healthcare, agriculture, roads, housing, and employment initiatives.
“The Ministry of Tribal Affairs collaborates with 41 other ministries to allocate a portion of their budget annually for tribal development under DAPST,” he said.
The Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, the funds released under DAPST saw a significant increase, with ₹617.04 crore allocated in 2019-20, rising to ₹1,106.11 crore in 2023-24 which were used for various demand-driven schemes submitted by the UT of J&K.
He said some of the major schemes implemented include the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM). “Under PMGSY, 3,437 roads covering 20,801 km and 305 bridges worth ₹14,810 crore have been sanctioned for J&K. Of these, 3,214 roads covering 19,324.72 km and 217 bridges have been completed at a cost of ₹12,610 crore,” he said.
He also said that in healthcare, as of March 31, 2023, there are 198 functional Sub-Centres, 65 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and three Community Health Centres (CHCs) in tribal areas of J&K. These facilities aim to improve healthcare access in remote tribal areas.
The Minister said that other schemes include Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for ST students, and initiatives to improve education, skill development, and tribal research. “Our focus is on inclusive growth to ensure marginalized communities benefit from government schemes,” he added.
The government is committed to improve the quality of life for tribal communities in J&K through comprehensive development strategies, he added.