Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) will hold discussions. 41 different Central ministries for proper utilization of the allocated budget for the development and welfare of the Scheduled Tribes.
An amount of Rs. 87,584 cr, allocated as Schedule Tribe Component in 2022-23 as against an amount of Rs. 78,256 cr in the last fiscal to the different Central Ministries. Which required to incur this expenditure for the welfare of STs and development of tribal areas.
As for the allocation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MTA, increased by 12.3% to Rs 8,451.92 crore over the budget estimate of Rs 7,524.85 crore for the previous fiscal.
The discussion platform aims to bring important stakeholders together to recommend corrective actions. Exercise the needed policy reforms to ensure the Constitutional safeguards provided to the Scheduled Tribe population implemented in their true spirit, the NCST said in a statement.
The budget allocation has been in accordance with the approval of the Cabinet to 14 schemes of the MTA of Central Sector. And Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely National Tribal Welfare Program with total financial outlay of Rs.3,344 Crore; Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) with total financial outlay of Rs.28,920 Crore and Pradhan Mantri Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana with total financial outlay of Rs.26,135 Crore for their continuation till 31.03.2026.
A total amount of Rs 2000 crores, sanctioned for setting up of EMRSs in the budget for 2022-23. An amount of Rs 499 cr, earmarked for Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission during the year. While an amount of Rs 50 cr, sanctioned for the new scheme of ‘Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes’. Rs 75 cr, earmarked for a new scheme for Development of Tribal Entrepreneurships in North-East named “Logistics and Marketing of Tribal Products in North East”.
There has been, however, some criticism of the Budgetary allocation. The Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch said the Union budget has neglected tribal communities by allocating only 2.26 per cent of it to them instead of 8.6 percent, which is proportionate to their population share.
“At a time when tribal students, forced to drop out of school because of exclusion from online education. Rs 292 crore meant for post-matric scholarships not given, Rs 400 crore meant to set up Eklavya residential schools for tribal children not spent. Rs 300 crore not spent meant for midday meals,” the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch said.
“The government had promised tribal universities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. But just Rs 2 crore allocated, out of which only Rs 47 lakh was given. Now in this budget, only Rs1.50 crore was allocated. The government had made such tall claims of allocating funds to ensure minimum support price for minor forest produce. But only Rs 155 crore was allocated, out of which just Rs 115 crore was spent.
“This when tribal communities, forced to make distress sales because the government was not procuring forest produce. Manch chairperson M Baburao Jitendra Chaudhury quoted in media reports as saying. Read more About The Indian Tribal News on our website.
