Centre stalls funds for tribal scheme in state

Jaipur: Rajasthan has not received any money under the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme/Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana in 2023-24 and 2024-25 because the state govt failed to submit a utilisation certificate (UC) for Rs 20.73 crore, according to a Lok Sabha reply.The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in a starred response tabled Thursday to Karauli-Dholpur MP Bhajan Lal Jatav, said the pending UC of Rs 20.7 crore continues into 2025-26. It also said "zero bills have been closed" on the SNA-SPARSH portal for the year. SNA-SPARSH is the Centre's online system meant to enable real-time release of funds for centrally sponsored schemes.The ministry said no utilisation certificates were received from Rajasthan for 2023-24 and 2024-25. The information was provided by Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram.On policy, the Centre said there is "no proposal under consideration" for a special development package for tribal-dominated areas.The reply also flagged gaps in Rajasthan's implementation of the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe students. In 2023-24, the state recorded 76,272 beneficiaries but no funds were released or utilised. In 2024-25, Rs 22.36 crore was released and utilised for 57,037 beneficiaries. In 2025-26, no funds were released or utilised despite 59,888 beneficiaries being recorded.Under the ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes' scheme, Rajasthan received no funds in 2023-24 and 2024-25, but Rs 3.7 crore was allocated in 2025-26.Jatav had asked about hostels and ashram schools for tribal populations in Karauli and Dholpur, skill development schemes, proposals for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), district-wise allocation and utilisation under Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan, and possibility of a special package. The ministry said no EMRS has been approved in Dholpur because none of its blocks meet the prescribed criteria.