Srinagar, Feb 12 (KNO): The Government of India on Thursday said that several welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes (STs) are being implemented in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).
Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durga Das Uikey, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the Centre, along with concerned Ministries, is allocating funds annually to bridge developmental gaps in tribal-dominated areas across the country, including J&K and Ladakh.
He said EMRS in J&K, Ladakh Under the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) scheme, six EMRS are functional in Jammu & Kashmir during 2024-25 with an enrolment of around 900 students.
The Minister provided a detailed breakup of the funds released under EMRS.
Jammu & Kashmir: 2022-23: ₹1,200 lakh• 2023-24: ₹891.40 lakh• 2024-25 (Provisional) ₹373.56 lakh
Ladakh: 2022-23: ₹450 lakh • 2023-24: ₹800 lakh• 2024-25 (Provisional): ₹17.41 lakh Pre-Matric Scholarship (ST Students)
Under the Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme: Jammu & Kashmir: 2023-24: 4,665 beneficiaries; ₹140.91 lakh 2024-25: 365 beneficiaries; ₹10.98 lakh 2025-26: 1,322 beneficiaries; ₹41.16 lakh
Ladakh: 2021-22: 1,766 beneficiaries; ₹55.38 lakh 2022-23: 758 beneficiaries; ₹23.10 lakh 2023-24: 82 beneficiaries; ₹2.53 lakh 2024-25: 8 beneficiaries; ₹0.24 lakh
Post-Matric Scholarship Under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme: Jammu & Kashmir: 2022-23: 74 beneficiaries; ₹10.16 lakh 2023-24: 10,399 beneficiaries; ₹1,455.75 lakh 2024-25: 6,591beneficiaries; ₹1,100.27 lakh 2025-26: 4,548 beneficiaries; ₹874.97 lakh
Ladakh: 2022-23: 12,212 beneficiaries; ₹2,891.50 lakh 2023-24: 2,217 beneficiaries; ₹530.47 lakh 2024-25: 12,977 beneficiaries; ₹3,549.53 lakh 2025-26: 139 beneficiaries; ₹41.64 lakh
Article 275(1) Grants Under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, funds were released for tribal welfare projects: Jammu & Kashmir:
2022-23: ₹36.76 lakh (Grant-in-aid to NGOs) 2023-24: ₹770.85 lakh (Support to Tribal Research Institute) 2024-25: ₹100 lakh (Provisional)
Ladakh: 2022-23: ₹74.33 lakh 2023-24: ₹84.54 lakh 2024-25: ₹181.79 lakh (Provisional) Under the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), concessional loans were disbursed for livelihood generation Jammu & Kashmir: 2022-23: ₹1,272.54 lakh
2023-24: ₹295.19 lakh 2024-25 (Provisional): ₹1,102.49 lakh
The Minister said flagship initiatives such as PM JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan are also being implemented to ensure infrastructure development, livelihood support and improved access to education and health facilities in tribal-majority areas.
The government reiterated its commitment to inclusive and equitable development of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and across the country—(KNO)