Chief Minister declared that State Government has proposed budgetary provision of Rs. 2030 crore for spending under Tribal Sub-Plan during 12th Five Year Plan, 2012-17. CM said it in the 42nd Meeting of Tribal Advisory Council held at Dharamshala.
Chief Minister said that compared to Rs. 1260 crore during ongoing 11th Five Year Plan, the State Government would be spending Rs. 770 crore more under Tribal Sub-Plan by enhancing the budgetary provisions to Rs. 2030 crore. He said that the State Government had earmarked 9 percent of its budgetary provisions for concentrated development of tribal areas of the State and Rs. 695.67 crore were being spent under Plan and Non-Plan provisions during current financial year. He said that additional budget was being provided under Central sponsored schemes i.e. Bharat Nirman and Border Area Development etc.. He said that keeping in view the limited working season in tribal areas due to heavy snow fall and blockade of gateways to tribal areas, the State Government had been ensuring time bound completion of developmental projects in all such areas. He said that during winter 48 helicopter flights had been carried to transport tribal population and employees to and fro tribal areas. He said that since the Tribal Sub Plan had been formulated for tribal areas and no funds were being diverted for outside development.
Dhumal said that Rs. 42.06 crore were being spent on construction of roads and bridges in most interiors in the tribal areas; Rs. 63.14 crore over Education and Health; Rs. 35.78 crore over Agriculture, Irrigation and Horticulture activities during current financial year. He said that Rs. 2.59 crore had also been made available under Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna to modernise and strengthen economy of farmers and horticulturists. He said that with a view to provide employees serving in tribal areas proper residential facilities a provision of Rs. 2.32 crore had been exclusively made for construction of housing to them. He said that one Tribal Bhawan was also being constructed at Reckong Peo, to facilitate residents of Hungrang Valley and Pooh Valley residents with boarding and lodging facilities at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore. He said that 1100 hectares of additional land had been registered in increase of green cover in tribal areas. He said that Rs. 22 crore had been spent on removal of lantana and other wild weeds from the cultivable land in tribal area.
Chief Minister said that Tribal Studies Institute had been set up in Himachal Pradesh University to facilitate research work on tribal development to formulate policies and programmes aimed at speedy development of tribal areas by the State Government. He said that 28 new handlooms and weaving centres were being set up by spending Rs. 137.63 lakh to economically empower tribal women. He said that a number of scholarships were being provided to tribal students to pursue their academic goals conveniently outside the tribal areas. He said that 24 tribal hostels had also been constructed in all of the three universities and different degree colleges at a cost of Rs. 23.41 crore while more such hostels were under construction in other higher educational institutions in the state. He said that the State was witnessing silent revolution in development sector wherein tribal people needed to take their share. He said that free school uniform would be made available to students of government schools from first to 10th standard from next academic session under Atal School Uniform Scheme.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government would be considering deployment of class-III and IV tribal employees to service in their native places so that better and dedicated services were ensured to their respective areas. He directed the authorities to speed up tower line project work from Pooh and Kaza areas so that the same was completed in a time bound manner. He said that possibilities were also being explored to set up monkey sterilization centre at Jeori, to meet requirement of Kinnaur and Rampur area of district Shimla. He said that Rs. 1281.9 lakh had been spent under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna in district Kinnaur..
He said that 42,000 hectares of forest area had been opened for grazing in tribal areas and necessary grazing permits would also be issued in due course of time. He said that tribal tourism was gaining popularity with foreigners since compared t3 thousand domestic tourists, 90 thousand foreigners visited tribal areas. He said that insurance of poly houses would be ensured and thickness of pipes to be considered to strengthen the structure. He directed the non-official members to motivate tribal youth to adopt transportation as their income generating avocation and operate transport vehicles in the rural and tribal areas to avail not only tax holidays but financial incentives as well. He urged them to propagate policies and programme of the State Government so that tribal areas could also progress alongside other developed areas. He advised farmers n tribal areas to get their farm produce certified as organic so that remunerative prices were ensured and avoid use of chemical fertilizer.
It was informed in the Meeting that 33 kms. of Atargu-Mudh-Bhawa road had already been completed while the remaining area falling in the Pin Valley National Park had been taken up with Central Empowerment Committee of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India through Standing Counsel for granting clearance. A Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Spiti, shall be preparing ‘Spiti Vision-2020’ to carry planned development of the valley. Poly Houses in Lahaul valley were being re-constructed.
Tribal Development Minister Khimi Ram Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked his personal interest in protecting the interests of tribal people. He also welcomed non-official members of the Tribal Advisory Council to the Meeting. Dr. Ramlal Markandey, MLA Lahaul and Spiti, raised the issue of issuance of ‘Pattas’ of the land to the ‘nau-tor’ allottees in tribal area. He proposed vote of thanks and also thanked Chief Minister for allowing engagement of local youth to fill up vacancies in local offices on contract basis.
Tejwant Singh Negi, MLA, Kinnaur, wanted project implementation for reclamation of barren land in tribal areas for gainful farm and horticulture activities. He thanked Chief Minister for his liberal attitude towards tribal developmental requirements. He urged Chief Minister for introduction of post graduation courses in tribal colleges at Reckong Peo, Kukumseri and Killar and also allows examination centres locally. He wanted regular electricity supply to tribal consumers from the local power houses during power breakdown in winter. Dr. P.C.Kapoor, Principal Secretary (Tribal development) also welcomed the Chief Minister, Tribal MLAs and non-official members to the Meeting and conducted proceeding of the Meeting.
Chet Ram Negi, former MLA and Parliamentary Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary S. Roy, Dr. D.S. Manhas, Director General of police, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Special Secretaries, Heads of the Departments, Deputy Commissioners, senior officers of different departments and non-official members of the Council attended the Meeting.
