Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government said that Rs 20.02 crore has been received during the current financial year 2026-27 against an approved Action Plan of Rs 39.21 crore under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA), with Rs 16.67 crore utilised so far.
The information was provided by the Department of Tribal Affairs in a written reply to an unstarred question raised by Kangan MLA Mian Mehar Ali regarding withdrawal/re-allocation of funds under DA-JGUA.
The government, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the initial mother sanction of Rs 39.21 crore was received from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on September 15, 2025 under DA-JGUA. The funds were authorised by the Finance Department and released to the District Development Commissioners through SPARSH on October 16, 2025.
However, the bills raised by the DDCs could not be processed as the mother sanction was subsequently rendered inactive on the PFMS portal by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Finance Department accordingly advised re-authorisation after receipt of a revised mother sanction, necessitating withdrawal of the earlier releases.
The Ministry subsequently issued a revised mother sanction through PFMS on February 4, 2026. Following this, the Finance Department re-authorised and released the funds in two instalments on February 4 and February 10, 2026, while the earlier releases were withdrawn and the funds were re-released to the DDCs for execution of works.
The government said claims raised through SPARSH were initially rejected at the PFMS level due to non-availability of funds under the relevant budget head with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Ministry subsequently conveyed that funds would be released to J&K in the first week of April 2026.
“During CFY 2026-27, Rs 20.02 crore (approximately 50%) has been received against the approved Action Plan for 2025-26 of Rs 39.21 crore,” the reply stated.
The present financial position given by the department shows Rs 39.21 crore allocated, Rs 20 crore released and Rs 16.67 crore utilised. The department said the funds have been released to the DDCs for settlement of work-done liabilities.
The department attributed the delay in utilisation primarily to the inactivation of the mother sanction on PFMS, subsequent re-authorisation requirements and temporary non-availability of funds under the concerned budget head at the Ministry level.
On the scope of DA-JGUA, the government said the scheme is a multi-sectoral, convergence-based initiative of the Government of India and is not confined to the education sector.
The Abhiyan covers 25 interventions implemented through 17 Ministries/Departments, including housing under PMAY, roads under PMGSY, drinking water under JJM-FHTC, electrification, solar energy, health, LPG connections, Anganwadi centres, construction of hostels, nutrition, telecommunications, skill development, digital initiatives, agriculture and farmers' welfare, fisheries, animal husbandry, Panchayati Raj, tribal hostels and other allied sectors.
In addition, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides support for components including establishment of Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres, improvement of Ashram Schools, hostels and government schools, centres of excellence, sickle-cell disease screening and counselling, support for Forest Rights Act and CFR management interventions, setting up of FRA cells and project management funds for tribal districts.
Regarding balanced and equitable implementation, the government said the interventions are implemented through convergence with the respective schemes and programmes of concerned Ministries and Departments.
Each concerned department or agency is responsible for implementing interventions falling within its mandate in accordance with prescribed guidelines, eligibility criteria, identification of beneficiaries, approved targets and availability of resources.
The government clarified that there is no policy decision to restrict DA-JGUA to the education sector, adding that the approved framework already encompasses the aforesaid sectors and interventions.
It said the extent and pace of implementation across different sectors may vary depending on identification of eligible beneficiaries/areas, availability of resources and fulfilment of prescribed scheme guidelines. The government said the objective is to ensure holistic and integrated development of eligible tribal-majority villages through coordinated and convergent implementation across multiple sectors—(KNO)