Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Budget Outlay for the Financial Year 2022-2023, has earmarked an enhanced Total Budget Outlay of Rs 8,451.92 Crores for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which is a substantial increase from the previous Total Budget Outlay of 2021-2022 that stood at Rs 7524.87 Crores. A substantial increase of 12.32% is reflected in the Total Budget Outlay for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The budget allocation has been in accordance with the approval of the Cabinet vide its decision dated January 19, 2022, which has inter-alia approved 14 schemes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs under umbrella of Central Sector and centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely National Tribal Welfare Programme 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 March 31, 2026, according to a PIB release.
A total amount of Rs 2,000 crores has been sanctioned for setting up of EMRSs in the budget for 2022-23. The cabinet has also approved the enhanced cost of construction for each school from Rs. 20 crore in plain areas and Rs 24 crore in hilly/NE/LWE areas to Rs 38 cr and Rs. 48 cr. respectively. The cabinet has approved total outlay of Rs. 28,920 cr for setting up of 452 new schools, upgradation of existing 211 schools and establishment of 15 Centres of Excellence for Sports for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle.
By 2025, it is expected that all 740 schools will become functional. Out of 452 new schools, the States have already provided land in 319 locations across the country and they are being pursued to provide suitable land in remaining locations. As on date, construction is under progress in 207 schools and in another 50 schools, construction is expected to start by March, 2022. PM Narendra Modi had on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas had laid foundation of 50 EMRs across the country. By August, 2022, construction in 75 schools is expected to be completed and will be dedicated to the nation on the eve of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
In the budget, an amount of Rs. 499 cr. has been earmarked for Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission during the year. The Mission seeks to achieve livelihood driven tribal development in the next five years through formation of Vandhan groups which have been organized into Vandhan Kendras. The MFP gathered by tribals will be processed at these kendras and marketed through Van Dhan Producer Enterprises. New haats bazaar and ware houses will be developed in next 5 years as part of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhyan”. TRIFED would be the nodal agency for implementing the scheme. The products produced will be marketed through Tribe India Stores. An amount of Rs 1,612 cr has been earmarked under the Mission for next five years.
An amount of Rs. 50 cr. has been sanctioned in the budget for the new scheme of ‘Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes’ (VCF-ST), which is aimed at promoting Entrepreneurship among the STs. The VCF-ST scheme would be a social sector initiative to promote ST entrepreneurship and to support and incubate the start-up ideas by ST youth.
A new scheme for Development of Tribal Entrepreneurships in North East “Logistics and Marketing of Tribal Products in North East” has been approved and an amount of Rs. 75 cr. has been earmarked for the scheme for the year.
The Cabinet has also approved increased outlay for Scholarships and NGO schemes and the financial norms for the scholarships for students doing Ph. D and pursuing other higher education courses at top class institutes across the country have been enhanced. The financial norms for the NGOs working in remote tribal areas have also been enhanced.
Sitharaman said that the Budget 2022 seeks to lay the foundation to steer the economy over the Amrit Kaal of the next 25 years, from India at 75 to India at 100, continuing to build on the Vision of Budget 2021. The focus is on macro-level growth with micro-level welfare of the citizens.
