Government Boosts Tribal Development with 200% Budget Increase

The Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced a nearly 200% increase in funding, with Rs 13,000 crores allocated for tribal communities' empowerment through the 2024 Union Budget. The budget focuses on economic, industrial, and agricultural advancements in the Northeast, enhancing infrastructure, MSMEs, and social justice programs for tribal and local communities.

The government has elevated the financial allocation for tribal community development by almost 200%, amounting to Rs 13,000 crores, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced. Addressing a meeting in Shillong on Saturday, he highlighted that the Union Budget 2024 charts a course for India towards 'Viksit Bharat.'

Sonowal emphasized the budget's objective to stimulate economic, industrial, and agricultural sectors, while empowering youth, women, and tribal communities in the Northeast. 'The budget's provision for tribal empowerment has surged nearly 200% with an allotment of Rs 13,000 crores dedicated to tribal welfare,' he stated.

He further detailed that the budget supports traditional artisans, craftsmen, self-help groups (SHGs), Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women entrepreneurs by bolstering programs like PM Vishwakarma, PM SVANidhi, National Livelihood Mission, and Stand Up India. A notable new scheme, Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram, aims to advance social justice and socio-economic conditions for tribal communities, benefiting 5 crore tribal people in 63,000 villages.

Focusing on agricultural development in the Northeast, Sonowal announced plans to make the region a hub for Natural Farming and Horticulture. 'The budget’s Rs 598 crore allocation for sustainable agriculture projects will mitigate climate change impacts and improve agricultural output,' he explained.

The Union Budget also prioritizes manufacturing, intending to strengthen the sector through the MUDRA scheme and a new Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs. 'The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme will offer Rs 15,000 in installments to first-time employees,' Sonowal noted, adding that 1000 ITIs will be upgraded alongside the establishment of women’s hostels and creches to support the female workforce.

For infrastructure development, the Finance Minister allocated Rs 19,338 crores for the fourth phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which aims to enhance road and highway connectivity in the Northeast, bolstering all-weather access to remote areas.