The State Government is committed towards an equal and balanced development of the tribal areas of the State and the welfare of the tribal people. The population of the tribal communities in the state is 5.71 percent of the total population. For the social and economic upliftment of this community in the state, nine percent of the total state plan amount is identified under the Tribal Sub-Plan.
In the financial year 2020-21, the State Government a total of Rs. 1758 crore has been provided under the Tribal Sub Plan which includes Rs. 1008 crore in the plan and Rs. 750 crore in the non-plan. Rs. 177.61 crore has been provided in the planned budget mainly for the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges, Rs. 164.89 crore for education services, Rs 113.06 crore for health services, and Rs. 128.84 crore for irrigation and drinking water schemes.
Special emphasis is being laid to strengthen the border areas for which, under the Border Area Development Scheme in the year 2018-19, Rs. 25.95 crore was spent as the central share and Rs. 2.88 crore as the state share and in the years 2019-20 and 2020-21, Rs. 25 crore was the central part and Rs 2.78 crore was the state part.
After the formation of the present government, as a result of the efforts of the State Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs GoI has provided an additional amount of Rs. 10 crores during the year 2017-18, Rs 8.45 crore during the year 2018-19 and Rs 9.91 crore during the year 2019-20.
Central Government approved the opening of 3 new Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya in Pangi, Bharmour, and Lahaul during the year 2018-19, in which academic work has been started during the year 2019-20 from October 2019. So far, Rs. 16 crore each has been released by the Central Government for the construction of Eklavya Adarsh Residential School, Pangi, and Lahaul. An amount of Rs. 24 crore will be provided for the construction of Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya Bharmour.
A total grant amounting to Rs. 36.28 crore was received under Special Central Assistance from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs of Central Government during the year 2018-19, which includes an additional grant of Rs. 15.70 crore as a result of the efforts of the State Government. Similarly, a total grant amount of Rs. 23.94 crore including additional grant amount of Rs. 5.34 crore was received during the year 2019-20.
A total grant of Rs. 33.78 crore was received from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution during the year 2018-19, with an additional grant amount of Rs 11.36 crore was received for Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya Building construction. Similarly, during the year 2019-20, a total grant amount of Rs. 23.14 crore including an additional grant amount of Rs.28.71 crore was received.
During the year 2018-19, it was decided to provide a telemedicine facility in the tribal areas Pangi and Bharmour, under which a provision of Rs 1.74 crore has been made in the year 2019-20 and Rs 1.93 crore in the year 2020-21. The facility is already operational in Kinnaur and Kaza.
Under The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 State Level Monitoring Committee, District Level Committees, and Sub Divisional Level Committees have been constituted for fast implementation in tribal areas and non-tribal areas. In addition, 17503 Forest Rights Committees were formed at the village level. During the year 2019-20, two-day training workshops were organized in Mandi and Shimla divisions. So far, community forest rights have been identified and vested on 1890.11 hectares of forest land and individual rights on 2.4129 hectares of forest land.
Helicopter service is provided by the government for tribal areas in winter. A total of 61 helicopter flights were undertaken during the year 2019-20, which benefited 1973 people. During the year 2018-19, the matter for a grant for Helicopter Service was taken up from the Central Government, as a result of which Rs. 4 crore was received from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India for the first time and Rs. 4 crores have been also received during the year 2019-20.
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