Tribal Affairs Department holds workshop with DDCs, BDCs

Srinagar, Aug 13: Tribal Affairs Department conducted a comprehensive workshop with District Development Councils of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Rajouri as a part of initiative towards expanding the reach and scope of tribal welfare schemes, convergent planning at district level besides sensitization about the procedural guidelines for availing tribal welfare grants.
Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, held a detailed discussion with Chairpersons, VCs and members of District Development Councils and Chairperson of Block Development Councils of Baramulla, Kupwara and Rajouri about various centrally sponsored schemes, self-employment ventures, infrastructure development in tribal areas, healthcare, schools and hostels, transit Accommodation, skill and youth centric initiatives. Proposals for establishment of Model Residential Schools, Day Boarding Schools, Hostels, health projects, FRA implementation and community infrastructure therein.
Director, Tribal Affairs, Musheer Mirza, Deputy Commissioners, Secretary, Advisory Board, Director Planning, Additional District Development Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners Panchayat also attended and discussed various projects.
Dr Shahid discussed about Integrated Village Development Scheme (IVDS) being launched for tribal villages with 500 or 50% population which replaces the SCA with TSS and Cluster Model Village. He had a detailed deliberation on status of Village Development Plan (VDPs) formulation under IVDS.
The members were informed that districts have to earmark funds under the District Capex budget as tribal sub-plan is ideally proportional to tribal population which constitutes “Tribal Sub-Plan” and such plans will be augmented by Tribal affairs department with adequate funding.
Further, it was informed that tribal affairs department is launching schemes for self-employment and entrepreneurship with skill development and livelihood for tribal youth for which beneficiary selection process shall be done through an open application system with active PRI involvement. They were also informed about planning process, components of DPRs, importance of timely submission of UCs and monthly updation of ADIGRAM portal mandatory for release of funds from Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Chairperson, DDC Baramula, Safina Beigh highlighted need for residential schools, skill development, women SHGs, awareness programmes and infrastructure in tribal areas. Members of DDC also spoke.
Chairman, District Development Council (DDC), Irfan Sultan Panditpuri and Vice Chairman, District Development Council, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir sought focused development in tribal villages and support to farming.
Chairman DDC Rajouri Naseem Liaqat DDC members Iqbal Malik and Sain Rashid, BDC Chairpersons Adv Khaliq Firdaus Darbar Choudhary and other members projected proposals regarding infrastructure development, model villages, border area development, education and essential services.