Gujarat has announced development projects worth Rs 2,284 crore across 14 tribal districts, covering roads, water supply, irrigation, education, healthcare, animal husbandry and forest development. The projects were announced during state-level Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebrations in Chhota Udepur, where Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated works and laid foundation stones for new projects.
The programme was held to mark the 151st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. It also included the distribution of assistance to beneficiaries and the launch of the Prakruti Krushi Aadharit Vadi Sahay Yojana in tribal districts.
Patel said the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, launched in 2007, had become a key initiative for the holistic development of tribal communities. He added that development works worth Rs 2 lakh crore were planned for tribal regions over the next five years, indicating that the latest announcement is part of a wider state investment plan rather than a standalone project package.
The chief minister said infrastructure priorities in the tribal belt were changing. According to the report, demand had moved beyond all-weather road access to villages, with greater emphasis now being placed on improving connectivity through high-speed corridors. The announcement did not specify the individual cost, location or completion timeline of each road and connectivity project.
Patel also cited existing education and healthcare infrastructure in the tribal areas, including 12 science colleges, two universities, 12 medical colleges and 57 Eklavya Model Residential Schools. More than 22,500 smart classrooms have been established, while over 18,800 forest rights certificates have been distributed, according to the chief minister.
The state government also announced plans to develop Chhota Udepur as a sports and food-processing hub to create employment opportunities for local youth. Shabari Booths and Johar Cafes were launched as livelihood initiatives intended to support tribal women and local artisans.
Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel said Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas was being observed at 86 locations across Gujarat. He said the government remained committed to the development of more than 1.1 crore tribal residents living across the tribal belt stretching from Umargam to Ambaji.
The announcement places transport, basic services, public institutions and local livelihoods within the same development package. The next stage will depend on the identification of individual works, their funding and tendering details, and the timelines for completing the projects across the 14 districts.
