Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram has hailed the Union Budget 2026–27 as a transformative step toward empowering India’s tribal communities, with a special emphasis on Odisha’s rich tribal and mineral heritage.
Describing the budget as “forward-looking and inclusive,” the minister highlighted its focus on holistic development, education, health, and industrial growth in tribal-dominated regions.
In a statement released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Oram emphasised the government’s commitment to area-based and people-centric initiatives for Scheduled Tribes. “This budget places tribal communities at the centre of India’s development journey,” he said, noting that it builds on flagship programs of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Key enhancements include the expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, which aim to provide quality education to tribal children in remote areas, particularly in Odisha. The budget also bolsters integrated village development programs under mission-mode initiatives for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), focusing on infrastructure, livelihoods, and social security.
Additionally, community-based interventions in health, nutrition, early childhood care, and youth development are tailored to meet the unique needs of tribal regions. Shri Oram stressed that these measures align with the vision of Viksit Bharat, transforming tribal communities from passive beneficiaries into active partners in nation-building.
“The Budget recognises Odisha’s pivotal role in India’s tribal and mineral landscape,” the minister added. “By combining welfare, education, livelihoods, and industrial development, this Budget will bring lasting and dignified progress to tribal families, especially in Odisha.”
Odisha emerges as a primary beneficiary due to its abundant resources and tribal population. The announcement of dedicated rare-earth and critical mineral corridors in mineral-rich states is expected to drive value addition, downstream manufacturing, and local employment in tribal belts. This positions Odisha as a strategic hub in India’s high-technology and clean-energy ecosystem.
The budget’s enhanced national capital expenditure will improve road, rail, digital, and social infrastructure in Odisha’s tribal districts, enhancing connectivity and market access for tribal producers and entrepreneurs. Support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and tribal enterprises through the proposed MSME Growth Fund and self-reliant clusters will enable artisans, forest-based collectives, and micro-entrepreneurs to scale operations and integrate into national and global value chains.
Shri Oram expressed confidence that these provisions will foster sustainable income generation, social empowerment, and inclusive growth, ensuring no tribal community is left behind. “This is a budget that reinforces our resolve to uplift the most marginalised sections of society,” he concluded.
The Union Budget 2026–27 continues the government’s push for equitable development, signalling a brighter future for India’s tribal populations amid broader economic reforms.
