2025-26 Budget on Feb 19: Rajasthan govt didn’t release Rs 1500 cr allocated in last budget for Tribal districts
TSP areas in Rajasthan include eight districts of which Dungarpur Banswara and Pratapgarh are dominated by tribals while Udaipur, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Pali and Chittorgarh have a sizable tribal population.
Written by Parul Kulshrestha
Jaipur | February 12, 2025 09:42 PM IST
3 min read
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TSP areas in Rajasthan include eight districts of which Dungarpur Banswara and Pratapgarh are dominated by tribals while Udaipur, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Pali and Chittorgarh have a sizable tribal population. (Representational Image/PTI)
The Rajasthan government led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had allocated Rs 1,500 crore for the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) districts in the 2024-2025 budget, an increase from Rs 1,000 crore in the previous budget. However, not a single rupee of the allocated fund has been released by the state government so far this fiscal, leaving developmental activities in the Southern districts of the state in limbo.
The budget for the financial year 2025-26 will be presented in the Rajasthan Assembly on February 19.
TSP areas in Rajasthan include eight districts of which Dungarpur Banswara and Pratapgarh are dominated by tribals while Udaipur, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Pali and Chittorgarh have a sizable tribal population.
The TSP area was created to specifically address the developmental needs of the tribals in Rajasthan who are often neglected. Every year a special budget is allotted to the TSP area.
Talking to The Indian Express, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister of Tribal Regional Development Babulal Kharadi accepted that there has been a delay in releasing the fund.
“Due to some issues, the fund of Rs 1500 crore is yet to be released by the treasury. They have recently asked for the suggestion to release the fund. We have written to the government to allocate the funds as early as possible,” Kharadi said.
When asked if any development works in the tribal areas were stopped due to fund issues, the minister said that the government was clearing the bills and working in the tribal region as per requirement.
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The issue was raised by the ST Morcha of the ruling BJP. Narayan Meena, President of ST Morcha, has written to the government requesting release of the fund for the development works in the tribal region.
Bhartiya Adivasi Party MLAs and MPs have also been raising the issue. Thavar Chand Damor, BAP MLA from Dhariawad, claimed that contractors have stopped the ongoing works in the tribal areas after their earlier bills were not cleared.
“The construction of woads, anicuts and bridges in the tribal region has been affected. The State government started Ma Badi Kendras to provide primary education to the students in the region but more than 70% of Ma Badi Endras have no building. There are complaints that 50 per cent of the tribal hostels in the TSP area have leaking roofs. What happened to the promises made by the BJP government for the development of tribal areas?” Damor sought to know.
BAP leader and Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat questioned the intention of the BJP government in allocating funds in the 2024-25 budget and not releasing it. “If the government is not releasing the funds, what’s the point in the budget allocation? A new budget session will start in less than 10 days and not a single rupee allocated in the last budget was released so far,” Roat pointed out.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
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