Centre allocates RS 104 cr for minor irrigation for ST owned land

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has released Rs 104 crore to the States during 2006-07 for taking up minor irrigation schemes for land owned by Scheduled Tribes (STs).

According to an official release issued here today, the objective of the scheme is to ensure the overall development of tribals by providing 100 per cent financial assistance to STs who are engaged in farming and usually reside in remote, far-flung and often inaccessible areas with undulating terrain. Their land holdings are fragmented and are small with poor irrigation facilities.

Assistance is provided for taking up irrigation projects aimed at enhancing productivity of land belonging to tribal communities through water harvesting and soil conservation so as to improve socio-economic conditions, conserve and improve biodiversity and provide employment leading to poverty alleviation. The assistance is released to the States on the basis of projects submitted by them.

The amount was distributed among a total of nineteen States with the highest allocation of 21.80 crore to Madhya Pradesh. This was followed by Gujarat with Rs 13.33 crore and Jharkhand Rs 12.63 crore during 2006-07.

UNI