Javed Rana asks PMU to act as monitoring backbone for tribal welfare programmes

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

JAMMU MARCH 10:-Minister for Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana today chaired a detailed meeting with the Project Management Unit (PMU) established under the Tribal Affairs Department and directed the team to function as the institutional backbone for monitoring and coordination of all tribal welfare programmes across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting focused on strengthening the monitoring and reporting mechanisms of the department so that implementation of various tribal welfare initiatives is tracked in a systematic and time-bound manner. Dr. Abdul Khabir, Deputy Director Tribal Affairs Jammu and Nodal Officer, Tribal Research Institute (TRI) J&K, conducted the proceedings of the meeting.

During the interaction, the Minister held detailed deliberations with the PMU team regarding their role in strengthening the monitoring framework of the department and ensuring better coordination between the department and district level institutions implementing various tribal welfare schemes.

The Minister emphasised that the PMU must function as a professional support system to the department and assist in building a strong Management Information System for real-time monitoring of schemes and programmes meant for tribal communities. He said the PMU should work closely with district administrations and field level officers to collect accurate and timely data regarding implementation of schemes such as scholarship programmes, livelihood initiatives, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, tribal hostels and other development interventions being implemented for the welfare of tribal communities.

Rana directed the PMU to put in place a clear mechanism for tracking progress of schemes on a regular basis and preparing periodic analytical reports for the department. These reports, he said, should highlight the status of implementation, identify bottlenecks and provide practical recommendations so that timely corrective action can be taken wherever required.

The Minister also stressed that the PMU must maintain close coordination with district level officers and institutions working on tribal welfare so that the department receives consistent and reliable updates from the ground. He said that proper coordination between the department, districts and implementing agencies will ensure better planning, improved utilisation of resources and faster delivery of benefits to tribal communities.

He further asked the PMU to support the department in documentation of field level experiences, good practices and success stories emerging from tribal areas. Such documentation, he said, would help in improving policy design and sharing successful models across different regions of the Union Territory.

Rana emphasised that tribal development programmes cover multiple sectors including education, health, livelihoods, research, cultural preservation and infrastructure development, and therefore require coordinated monitoring and professional support. The PMU, he said, must assist the department in maintaining a comprehensive picture of progress across these sectors so that policy decisions are based on accurate information and field realities.

The Minister expressed confidence that with a well-structured monitoring and reporting system, the department will be able to significantly strengthen the implementation of programmes meant for the welfare and empowerment of tribal communities.

He called upon the PMU team to work with dedication and professionalism so that the Tribal Affairs Department is able to deliver measurable and visible outcomes on the ground. He said that the ultimate objective of every effort of the department must be to ensure that development initiatives reach the last tribal household in the remotest village of Jammu and Kashmir and contribute to the long-term empowerment and dignity of tribal communities.