10 Solan villages selected for tribal development campaign
Ten villages from nine gram panchayats in Solan district have been selected under the Dharti Abha Tribal Village Development campaign, a centrally-sponsored initiative aimed at ensuring the overall development of the tribal community.
The identified villages include Baircha, Mastanpur, Gol Jamala, Dhana, Kaundi, Malpur, Lehi and Makhanu Majra from the Nalagarh subdivision, as well as Karuwana and Kamberwala from the Patta subdivision.
This information was shared today by the Solan Deputy Commissioner, Manmohan Sharma, who explained that the campaign seeks to uplift the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population through comprehensive, targeted interventions.
“The objective of the Dharti Abha Tribal Village Development campaign is to ensure the overall development of the tribal community in the district. This initiative is being implemented across 26 states and four Union Territories,” said Sharma.
Villages with a ST population of over 50 per cent have been included in this ambitious campaign, which will be implemented in Solan district from June 15 to June 30.
Providing further details, the Deputy Commissioner said, “Under this campaign, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion and self-employment opportunities will be provided to bring about a discernible transformation in the lives of the tribal families. Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) will also be established in these villages to improve access to healthcare.”
Multiple departments, including Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Power, Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Education, Skill Development, Agriculture, Telecommunications and Tribal Affairs, will be actively involved in the campaign’s implementation, he added.
At a broader level, the campaign aims to connect the tribal community into the social and economic mainstream on priority basis. “Over the next five years, focused efforts will be made to ensure that tribal populations benefit directly from basic services and see a marked improvement in their quality of life,” Sharma said.
A total of 25 interventions will be carried out under this initiative by 17 ministries in a time-bound manner. Funds will be allocated under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes over the next five years.
Issues like provision of pucca houses with tap water connections, improving village infrastructure, including mobile connectivity, skill development programmes for students post-Class X and XII, marketing support for cottage industries, ensuring quality and affordable education by developing tribal hostels at the district and block levels, which will also help in improving the gross enrolment ratio.
Himachal Tribune