Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a decisive step aimed at safeguarding Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds, the State government has issued fresh directives mandating strict compliance with NITI Aayog guidelines to ensure that allocations directly benefit Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
All line departments have now been instructed to seek prior approval from the Tribal Welfare Department before proposing any new scheme, modification, project, or development work under the TSP. The approval must be obtained before administrative and financial sanctions are granted.
The move follows concerns that certain TSP allocations were not aligned with NITI Aayog’s clarification that only plan or scheme-based expenditure should be considered while earmarking funds in proportion to the ST population. Non-plan spending, including establishment or routine sectoral expenses, cannot be counted under TSP allocations.
In an official notification, Director of Tribal Welfare Nilesh Dhaigodkar stated that departments must ensure strict adherence to the prescribed guidelines and prevent any diversion of TSP funds for purposes unrelated to tribal welfare.
To strengthen accountability, departments have also been directed to cite the Tribal Welfare Department’s reference number in all notifications and sanction orders concerning new or revised TSP schemes.
The Tribal Welfare Department has been empowered to suggest new initiatives or changes to existing schemes, hold consultations with departments on project proposals, and verify that planned works genuinely serve tribal communities. Departments have further been advised to submit proposals for the upcoming financial year by October–November of the preceding year for scrutiny and review.
The government has cautioned that any failure to comply with these instructions will be taken seriously.
