Himachal: Over Rs 3,000 crore spent on speeding up tribal area development

The government has invested more than Rs 3,000 crore over the past two-and-a-half years for speeding up development in the tribal areas of the state. “This intervention has directly benefited over 35,000 tribal families through improved infrastructure, enhanced access to education and healthcare, livelihood generation programmes and better social services,” said a government spokesperson.

“New roads, bridges, residential schools, health facilities and community-based interventions are steadily transforming the socio-economic landscape,” he added.

The Tribal Area Development Programme has been implemented with budgetary provisions of Rs 855 crore during 2022-23, Rs 857.14 crore in 2023-24, Rs 890.28 crore in 2024-25 and a proposed Rs 638.73 crore for 2025-26. Major civil works, including roads, bridges, transport infrastructure and public buildings, accounted for Rs 290.58 crore in 2022-23, Rs 287.99 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 62.92 crore in 2024-25 with Rs 125.06 crore earmarked for 2025-26.

Recognising the challenge of service delivery in high-altitude and sparsely populated areas, the government has strengthened basic public services in remote hamlets. “Health sub-centres have been upgraded, mobile outreach and referral units deployed, while drinking water and electricity supply have been made more reliable. Livelihood support linked to horticulture, animal husbandry and value-addition of local produce has helped stabilise incomes of tribal households,” the spokesperson said.

Under the Vibrant Village Programme, 75 frontier habitations in Kinnaur, Pooh and Spiti have been mapped and development plans framed to strengthen infrastructure, social services and economic opportunities along border areas. “Work has already commenced on connectivity, housing and community assets in these villages,” he added.

The spokesperson further said that education was another area of priority. Four Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Nichar, Bharmour, Pangi and Lahaul are currently hosting 1,008 students, with 150 new admissions made every year in Class 6.

To ensure timely implementation of the Forest Rights Act, officials and community representatives were trained intensively in tribal districts. As of June 2025, as many as 901 land titles, 755 individual and 146 community ‘pattas’ have been issued.

“In April 2025, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released an FRA implementation calendar to ensure uniform and time-bound disposal of pending claims,” he said. “The government has completed land transfer, statutory clearances and DPR preparation worth Rs.40.29 crore for a permanent Tribal Research and Training Institute, which will anchor research, capacity-building and evidence-based policymaking for tribal development,” he said.