Maharashtra Government makes provision for ₹160 crore in 2026-27 Budget for development of primitive tribes

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaks during a meeting with the advisory committee for ‘Viksit Maharashtra 2047 ’ at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. File

Under ‘Viksit Maharashtra 2047’, the Maharashtra Government made provision for a special package of ₹160 crore in the 2026-27 Budget for the “holistic development of the primitive tribes” — Katkari, Kolam and Madia — along with the Pardhi community.

The package includes 130 crore reserved for primitive tribes, ₹30 crore reserved for the Pardhi community, and also provides for 100% government grant for individual and collective benefit schemes.

The ₹130 crore will be further divided and allocated as follows: ₹100 crore for basic amenities and ₹30 crore for individual and collective benefit schemes. For the Pardhi community, ₹10 crore will be allocated for basic amenities and ₹20 crore for individual and collective benefit schemes.

The announcement to provide funds through a special package for the holistic development of primitive communities was made in the 2026-27 Budget.

The State Government issued a Government Resolution (GR) on 2 November 2026 to implement the package.

The minimum grant of ₹50,000 will be given for an individual scheme, and up to a maximum of ₹7.5 lakh for a collective scheme of two or more beneficiaries.

“If beneficiaries are deprived of benefits under schemes of other departments because they are unable to pay their own share, then the Tribal Development Department will chip in. Greater encouragement will be given to the formation of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for women’s empowerment, enabling women to take up collective ventures and achieve economic empowerment of their families, groups will be given grants of up to ₹7.5 lakh,” stated in a CMO statement.

The funds will also be used to organise awareness drives and special camps, providing essential documents like Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, Ration Card, Caste Certificate, MGNREGA Job Card, Ayushman Card and Bank Account. Health check-up camps, visits by Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and nurses, health education and benefits of government health schemes will also be provided.

The package also includes increasing student attendance, bringing out-of-school children into the mainstream of education, and organising residential camps in Ashram Schools during summer for children of migrant families.

Mumbai / Maharashtra / tribals / minority group