DUNGARPUR (Rajasthan, India): The government in the Indian state of Rajasthan has announced the launch of 326 projects collectively worth Rupees 1,902 crore specially for tribal-dominated districts. This will be in addition to a major drive to grant forest rights to indigenous communities in the state.
The projects were launched at a function to mark Tribal Pride Day held at Beneshwar Dham near Navtapara village in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan earlier this week. The projects will
cover Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Salumber and Sirohi districts in the state. The focus will be on infrastructure, livelihoods and social development, and are part of a broader strategy to improve economic conditions in tribal regions.
A key component of the initiative is a statewide campaign to provide individual and community forest rights titles to tribal families living in forest areas. The titles will be formally recorded in revenue records, enabling beneficiaries to access government welfare schemes, institutional credit and other entitlements that often require land ownership documentation.
Officials said the move is aimed at addressing long-standing gaps in the implementation of the Forest Rights Act of 2006, which was enacted to recognize the land and resource rights of forest-dwelling communities historically denied legal ownership under colonial and post-independence forest laws. In Rajasthan, delays in recognition of such rights have limited access to development benefits for many tribal households.
The state government also announced plans to strengthen tribal livelihoods through forest-based economic activities and traditional crafts. Initiatives include support for artisans engaged in practices such as Pithora painting, bamboo work and pottery, as well as the expansion of Van Dhan Development Centers that promote value addition to forest produce. More than 500 such centers are already operational, supporting large numbers of tribal women through income-generating activities.
In addition, a Rupees 100 crore tribal tourism circuit has been proposed to connect key cultural and religious sites, including Beneshwar Dham and other locations significant to tribal communities. The project is expected to boost local employment while preserving cultural heritage.
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