Samba: Minister for Tribal Affairs, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Transport Javed Ahmed Rana on Thursday announced the construction of a girls’ hostel in Samba at an estimated cost of ₹7 crore to improve residential facilities for tribal girl students and strengthen their access to education.
The announcement was made during an interaction with members of tribal communities in Samba as part of the ongoing Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, being observed across Jammu and Kashmir from November 1 to 15.
During the interaction, members of tribal communities raised several issues concerning housing, education, scholarships, healthcare, road connectivity, drinking water, electricity and livelihood opportunities. Rana directed the concerned officers to examine the demands and ensure their resolution within stipulated timelines.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada should serve not only as an occasion to recognise the heritage and contributions of tribal communities but also as an opportunity to improve the delivery of welfare and development schemes at the grassroots level.
He said the government was committed to ensuring that development benefits reached every eligible tribal household, particularly families living in remote, inaccessible and underserved areas.
In a significant direction to the departments, Rana called for adequate and proportionate allocation of development funds for tribal communities under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), in accordance with applicable guidelines of NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
He said allocations under the plan should correspond to the tribal population and their development requirements, adding that earmarked funds must be utilised effectively to address gaps in infrastructure, education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
The Minister also stressed that tribal development could not be treated as the responsibility of the Tribal Affairs Department alone and called for greater coordination among departments, including Rural Development, Education, Health, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Social Welfare and Skill Development.
He directed the district administration to organise focused outreach programmes and special camps in tribal habitations during the fortnight to identify eligible families who had not yet been covered under government welfare schemes.
Rana specifically asked the Deputy Commissioner, Samba, to ensure maximum coverage of eligible tribal households under housing, scholarships, healthcare, social security, skill development, employment and livelihood schemes.
Emphasising the need to assess the programme through its actual impact, he said the success of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada should be measured by the benefits reaching tribal families rather than the number of events organised.
He also called for identifying development gaps in tribal habitations and incorporating their requirements into departmental plans to ensure that these communities received an equitable share in the overall development process. Officers were asked to maintain regular interaction with tribal representatives and address genuine grievances promptly.
Later, Rana inspected the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown at Jatwal in Samba, where he reviewed foodgrain availability, storage conditions, quality control arrangements and the functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS).
He directed officials to maintain adequate stocks, ensure proper storage and regular supplies, and facilitate timely distribution of ration to beneficiaries without inconvenience.
MLA Surjeet Singh Salathia, Deputy Commissioner Samba, senior officers of the Tribal Affairs and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs departments, representatives of Rural Development and other sectoral departments, besides members of tribal communities, attended the interaction.
