Tribal welfare Scheme: Less than 50% of funds spent so far

The Centre’s bid to spend an unprecedented allocation of over Rs 39,000 crore for tribal welfare this fiscal has run into rough weather with almost half of the ministries unable to spend even 50% of the allocations.

The Modi government had ear-marked a whopping Rs 39,134.69 crore under Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) or Scheduled Tribes Component (STC) in 2018-19 – an unprecedented amount so far. Under TSP, 37 central government ministries and departments are required to ear-mark 2-20% of their total budget outlay for tribal welfare. The ministries identify targeted schemes and then ear-mark the funds scheme-wise to different states.

However, 16 of the 37 ministries have spent less than half the amount till date.


As per data provided by ministry of tribal affairs, with just three months for the current fiscal to end four departments have not spent a single penny so far. These include department of consumer affairs, department of food and public distribution, ministry of food processing industries and ministry of youth affairs and sports. Three ministries – women and child development, department of telecommunications and ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship – have spent less than 10% of the allocated amount so far.