The development of tribal areas in Himachal Pradesh is a priority of the state government. To provide opportunities for progress to the people of tribal areas, the government has made a provision of Rs 857 crore under the Tribal Area Development Program (TADP) in the year 2023-24.This was stated by Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi during the review meeting of the Tribal Development Department here today.
He said that four Eklavya Model Residential Schools in the state were providing free education to the tribal students and 24,794 students have been admitted in these schools in the year 2023-24. Under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojna, livelihood is being provided to the tribal people using natural resources through four Van Dhan Vikas Kendras being run in the state, he remarked.
Sh. Negi said that for the convenience of the tribal people, Tribal Bhawans were being constructed in Nurpur and Rampur. Tribal villages of the state will be developed under the Vibrant Village Programme, he added.Director of Pre-Examination Coaching Center for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at Himachal Pradesh University, Prof. Joginder Singh Dhiman detailed the facilities were being provided to the students through these centres.
Joint Secretary Tribal Development, Dr. Vikram Singh Negi, Joint Director Tribal Development, Kailash Chauhan, Registrar Himachal Pradesh University, Dr. Virendra Sharma, senior officers of Directorate of Higher Education and department of Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Specially Abled People were also present in the meeting.