The State Government was giving special thrust on development of tribal areas of the State so that they could develop at par with the other areas of the State. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this while presiding over the 47th meeting of Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), here today.Chief Minister said that several policy decisions were taken by the Council since Single Line Administration had been adopted to solve various issues of the tribal people. He said that nine percent of the State budget has been earmarked for Tribal Sub Plan for overall development of the tribal areas. He said that Rs. 904 crore Plan and Rs. 831 crore Non Plan allocations have been made under the Tribal Sub Plan during the current financial year.Jai Ram Thakur said that Rs. 144.17 crore has been earmarked for construction of buildings, roads and bridges, Rs. 169.37 crore for education sector, Rs. 99.22 crore for health sector and Rs. 59.54 crore for irrigation and water supply schemes in the tribal areas.Chief Minister said that the Government was ensuring that regular helicopter sorties were being carried out to facilitate the people of the tribal areas. He said that during the last year 71 helicopter flights were carried out in the tribal areas and 2303 people were benefitted. He said that the State Government had also taken up the matter for providing subsidy on helicopter services for tribal areas during the year 2018-19 with the Tribal Affairs Ministry, GoI and Rs. four crore subsidy was received by the Government.Jai Ram Thakur said that on the initiative of the State Government the Union Tribal Development Ministry had provided an assistance of Rs. 70 crore to the State for various developmental activities in the tribal areas during the year 2018-19. He said that under the Border Area Development Programme the State Government had succeeded to get additional amount of Rs. 10 crore during the year 2017-18 and Rs. 8.45 crore during the year 2018-19. He said that during the year 2019-20 under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, Special Central Assistance of Rs. 67 crore have been provided by the Union Government to the State.
Chief Minister said that the State Government had also succeeded in sanctioning of three Eklavya Model Residential Schools for the tribal areas of the State which have been opened in Bharmour, Pangi and Lahaul. He said that the Tribal Affairs Ministry, GoI would provide Rs. 56 crore for construction of the buildings of these schools out of which Rs. 33.66 crore have been received till date.Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government had also provided tele-medicine facility for Bharmour and Pangi tribal areas for which the Union Government had provided Rs. two crore as special assistance during the year 2018-19 and for this year Rs. 1.74 crore have been approved. He said that tele-medicine facility had already been started at Keylong, Kaza and Pooh to facilitate the tribal people. He said that a Tribal Bhawan was being constructed at Rampur with a cost of Rs. 6.79 crore to facilitate the tribal people of Kinnaur and Spiti.Chief Minister said that former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to Keylong had announced construction of Rohtang tunnel on 3rd June, 2000 in order to provide all weather connectivity to the tribal area. He said that the tunnel would be dedicated soon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate the people Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi area. He said that now this tunnel has been named at Atal Tunnel after Former Prime Minister Bharat Ratan Atal Bihari Vajpayee.Jai Ram Thakur assured that the regular meeting of the TAC would be held regularly and the effective steps would be taken on the decisions taken in the meeting. He said that the steps would be taken to redress the issues of Nautor and FRA in the tribal areas.
Agriculture and Tribal Development Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda said that the Council was constituted by 1977 by the then Janta Party Government and its first Meet was held in 1978. He thanked the Chief Minister for envisaging keen interest in the development of the tribal areas and welfare of the tribal people. Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for giving special thrust on development of tribal areas of the State. He also felt the need to develop tribal areas from tourism point of view. He said that better communication facilities be provided in the tribal areas. MLA Kinnaur Jagat Singh Negi said that stress should be laid on ensuring quality supply of power in the area. He said that adequate stock of wire, poles and other appliances so that uninterrupted power supply could be ensured. He also urged for early completion of building of Eklavya School Khuni.MLA Bharmour Jiya Lal Kapur stressed on ensuring adequate staff in various institutions in the area. He also urged for early completion of building of Eklavya School Khani.Earlier, the members of TAC were administered oath on the occasion.Members of Tribal Advisory Council gave valuable suggestions on the occasion. Almost all members felt the need to redress the issue of Nautor in the tribal areas, besides ensuring the better connectivity in the tribal areas.Principal Secretary Tribal Development Onkar Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion among.Special Secretary Tribal Development C.P.Verma conducted the proceedings of the meeting.Vice Chairman State Forest Development Corporation Surat Negi, Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Khachi, Additional Chief Secretaries Ram Subhag Singh, Manoj Kumar and R.D. Dhiman, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of Departments and other senior officers of the State Government were present in the meeting.