The Tribal Welfare Department has proposed a new scheme to improve the productivity of the lands under cultivation of Tribal farmers.
With the Government bound to allocate funds for the uplift of tribals under the ST Sub Plan which is now proposed to be amended as ST Special Development Fund in proportion to their population, the emphasis is on spending the funds on schemes that will help in the economic progress of the community.
The Land Development Scheme under the new budget proposals envisages development of not only assigned lands but also lands owned by the tribal farmers. There are about three lakh ST farmers who have 6.6 lakh acres of assigned lands. But the productivity of bulk of the lands is low, say official sources.
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The scheme envisages digging of bore wells, energising them and promoting drip irrigation by linking the scheme with National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The scheme is similar to Indira Jala Prabha scheme implemented in some pockets in the combined State with funds from the NABARD. The Department looks at extending the scheme in a phased manner and in the first year, 2017-18, it will focus on 15,000 acres benefiting 5,000 tribals and about ₹ 2 lakh will be spent on digging bore wells, electrification and other facilities to ensure crop productivity improves with assured water supply. In the first year, ₹ 100 crore to ₹ 150 crore will be earmarked for the scheme, department sources said. Efforts were also on to ensure equity among all ST communities in the wake of grievances that Lambada community emerged as the major beneficiary under any scheme.
About 31 lakh tribal population is spread over erstwhile Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal and Nalgonda districts.