21st December, 2025
The State Government under the guidance of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is firmly committed to ensure balanced, inclusive and sustainable development of the State’s tribal regions. With tribal communities constituting about 5.71 percent of the State’s population, their social and economic welfare has been placed at the core of the government’s development agenda.
To ensure focused and outcome-oriented growth, nine per cent of the total State Plan has been earmarked under the Tribal Area Development Programme. Over the past three years alone, a provision of Rs. 2,386.15 crore has been made for tribal areas under this programme which reflect the strong resolve of the government to bridge regional disparities and bring tribal regions into the mainstream of development. For the financial year 2025-26, an additional provision of Rs. 638.73 crore has been made under the programme.
A landmark initiative was undertaken on 15 April 2025, when Pangi valley was declared the first Natural Farming Sub-Division of the State. To strengthen farm incomes, the State Government also began procuring barley produced by Pangi farmers at a Minimum Support Price of Rs. 60 per kilogram. Around 40 metric tonnes of barley have already been procured, ensuring assured income to local cultivators. Giving priority to Scheduled Areas, the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojna was launched in Spiti in February 2024.
Creating employment and self-employment opportunities for youth remains a top priority of the government. To generate livelihoods through the transport sector in tribal areas, the State Government has announced a subsidy of up to 40 percent for eligible youth on the purchase of buses and traveler vehicles, along with an exemption from road tax for four months. To promote self-employment in the renewable energy sector, interest subsidies of five percent are being provided for setting up private solar power projects ranging from 100 KW to two MW in tribal regions.
Infrastructure development has received strong momentum, with nearly Rs. 476 crore spent on transport, roads, bridges and buildings in tribal regions over the last three years. A total of 3,148 kilometers of motor-able roads have been constructed in tribal areas, of which about 61 percent have been paved. The Chief Minister has directed officers to complete a tender process for development works in snow-bound areas at the earliest so that construction activities can commence from March-April as soon as weather conditions improve. To strengthen uninterrupted connectivity in Kinnaur, a new road will be constructed at Nigulsari, a major bottleneck and landslide-prone sinking zone on National Highway-5.
In the education sector, four Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been established at Nichar, Bharmaur, Pangi and Lahaul, with 1,008 students currently enrolled. Foundation stones have been laid for new EMRS campuses at Pangi and Kukumseri. Construction work is underway at Pangi and Lahaul, while CPWD is completing formalities for Bharmour. Additional residential facilities are also being constructed at EMRS Nichar. Land clearance for the Tribal Research and Training Institute has been secured and a Detailed Project Report worth Rs. 40.29 crore has been sent to the Government of India for approval.
The State Government has also ensured the establishment of adequate health and veterinary infrastructure in tribal regions. These include two regional hospitals, six civil hospitals, five community health centres, 46 primary health centres, three ayurvedic hospitals, 73 ayurvedic dispensaries, 48 veterinary hospitals, 118 veterinary dispensaries and five sheep and wool extension centres.
Tourism is emerging as a major livelihood driver in tribal belts. Border tourism has been launched at Shipki-La in Kinnaur, significantly boosting local income. Following the Chief Minister’s visit, tourist footfall at Shipki-La has reportedly increased threefold. The State Government is actively pursuing the proposal to start the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki-La and has strongly taken up the matter with the Central Government. Efforts are also underway to resume traditional trade with Tibet. Buddhist tourism circuits and astro-tourism are being promoted, with a star-gazing facility inaugurated at Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti. Remote destinations such as Chandra Tal, Tandi, Kaza, Rakchham and Nako-Chango are being developed under a special tourism plan.
Sustainable energy solutions further reflect the government’s forward-looking approach. Solar off-grid systems have been installed in 148 households across remote villages including Mud, Langza, Hikkim and Komic. Battery energy storage systems are being set up in villages of Pangi valley to ensure uninterrupted power supply. A 2 MW solar power plant has already been commissioned at Kaza, while solar power plants of 1.2 MW at Dhanwas (Pangi) and 2 MW at Rong-tong (Spiti) will be made functional soon to permanently resolve power supply issues.
The State Government is also prioritizing the settlement of long-pending Nautor cases in tribal areas. The State Cabinet has approved the proposal, which has been sent to the Governor. Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, around 1,039 land titles have been distributed till September 2025. For public convenience, construction of a Tribal Bhawan at Rampur is in progress, while the Nurpur Tribal Bhawan will be dedicated to the people shortly.
Due to sustained efforts of the state government tribal regions have witnessed unprecedented development and today display greater prosperity compared to many other parts of the State. The average per capita income in tribal districts is higher than the state average and these regions also perform better on key social indicators, including a favourable male-female sex ratio.
Through focused planning, sustained investment and decisive leadership, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu tribal and border areas became a hub of opportunity, dignity and sustainable growth, ensuring that development truly reaches the last village and to the last person.
