The Hindu Business Line : Modi launches Rs 15,000-cr tribal development plan

Dahod (Gujarat) March 26 Virtually launching his party's campaign for the Assembly elections due this year, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, today launched an all-inclusive, umbrella-like Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, an Rs 15,000-crore scheme for the welfare of 75 lakh tribal people of the State, saying this would go a long way in the upliftment of this section of population.

He had announced the 10-point scheme during the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha recently. Among the promises were providing houses to all homeless tribal families, safe drinking water and tap water at the doorsteps to at least a quarter of tribals in the five years of the next Five-Year Plan. A village development action plan would be chalked out for each tribal village.

In a series of four conventions aiming at women, he said in this district the scheme would run for five years. It would envisage job-oriented programmes in agriculture, animal husbandry and dairying, quality education and accord priority to families headed by women.

Under the scheme, which incorporates all existing tribal sub-plans, steps would be taken to accelerate development of all predominantly tribal areas, having a third of the 182-strong Assembly memberships, and provide amenities to tribal families for safe motherhood and healthy children. Group and drip irrigation, watershed development schemes would be given priority and financial assistance would be given to poor farming families for buying oil engines.

Besides, Mr Modi said, tribal habitations having up to 250 population would all be linked with better roads, houses of tribals living below the poverty lines would be electrified free of cost and use of solar energy would be encouraged in other areas. In Dahod district, 8,000 families would be given milch animals and flower farming will be encouraged.

developmental works

The Chief Minister pointed out that a total of 82,000 developmental works had been undertaken by his Government in Gujarat during the last six years, all in public-private partnership. Nine main roads connecting the tribal areas with coastal ones had been constructed in the east-west direction of the State.

He said while only Rs 6,100 crore had been spent on tribal welfare in 41 years after the State came into being, his Government had spent an equal amount in just last five years.

More Stories on : Rural Development | Gujarat

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page