NEW DELHI: The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has asked States to prepare exclusive annual plan to spend the outlay earmarked for the Scheduled Tribes population.

The States have been asked to keep the fund under a separate budget head from total State plan outlay at least in the proportion of ST population for development in the tribal region.

This was disclosed by Union Tribal Affairs Minister P.R. Kyndiah at a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministries here on Wednesday.

On the Draft National Tribal Policy, Mr. Kyndiah said the Ministry had received a large number of suggestions and comments.

The views of all stakeholders would be given due consideration before the finalisation of the policy.

The members of the Consultative Committee were also informed that the Government was working on an action plan to ensure effective and timely implementation of the targets and provisions of the policy.

Mr.Kyndiah expressed the hope that the policy would bring the Scheduled Tribes on a par with the rest of the population in terms of Human Development Index, socio-economic development and basic infrastructure facilities in their areas.

Briefing members about various initiatives taken by the Government to improve connectivity in the north-east region, Mr. Kyndiah, who also holds the charge of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, said that the Ministry in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank had prepared projects to upgrade about 1,300 km of roads at a cost of Rs. 1,950 crores. Currently, 45 road projects are being funded by the North Eastern Council.

Similarly, efforts were on to upgrade air connectivity in the region. A detailed project report with an estimated cost of Rs. 340 crore had been prepared for Pakyong airport at Gangtok and a techno-economic feasibility study was being taken up for the proposed airports at Kohima and Itanagar.

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