DW BUREAU / SHIMLA The State Government is committed towards equal and balanced development of the tribal areas of the State and the welfare of the tribal people. The population of tribal community in the state is 5.71 percent of the total population. For the social and economic upliftment of this community in the state, nine percent of the total state plan amount is identified under the Tribal Sub-Plan. In the financial year 2020-21, the State Government a total of Rs. 1758 crore has been provided under the Tribal Sub Plan which includes Rs. 1008 crore in the plan and Rs. 750 crore in the non-plan. Rs. 177.61 crore have been provided in the plan budget mainly for construction of buildings, roads and bridges, Rs. 164.89 crore for education services, Rs 113.06 crore for health services and Rs. 128.84 crore for irrigation and drinking water schemes. Special emphasis is being laid to strengthen the border areas for which, under the Border Area Development Scheme in the year 2018-19, Rs 25.95 crore was spent as the central share and Rs 2.88 crore as the state share and in the years 2019-20 and 2020-21, Rs 25 crore was the central part and Rs 2.78 crore was the state part.After the formation of the present government, as a result of the efforts of the State Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs GoI has provided an additional amount of Rs 10 crore during the year 2017-18, Rs 8.45 crore during the year 2018-19 and Rs 9.91 crore during the year 2019-20. The Central government approved the opening of 3 new Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya in Pangi, Bharmour and Lahaul during the year 2018-19, in which academic work has been started during the year 2019-20 from October 2019. So far, Rs 16 crore each has been released by the Central government. (editor@dailyworld.in)