3- Buksa and Raji Tribal Development Scheme

The Buksa and Raji Tribal Development Scheme in Uttarakhand is a targeted initiative aimed at uplifting two of the state's most marginalized Scheduled Tribes—Buksa and Raji. Recognized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), these communities face significant socio-economic challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Key Development Initiatives

1. Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) Plan

Under the CCD Plan, the Directorate of Tribal Welfare in Dehradun has allocated resources for the development of Buksa and Raji communities. The fund distribution is approximately 77.2% for Buksa and 22.8% for Raji. Initiatives include:ResearchGate

• Construction of pucca houses, toilets, Anganwadi centers, and community halls.

• Establishment of training centers and provision of vocational tools.

• Implementation of health and nutrition programs under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) .

2. Educational Support

Efforts have been made to enhance educational infrastructure, such as building primary and junior high schools and providing scholarships. However, challenges persist, especially for the Raji community, where dropout rates remain high due to inaccessibility and economic constraints  .

3. Livelihood and Infrastructure Development

Programs under the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) have focused on:

• Providing agricultural tools and livestock to promote self-sustenance.

• Developing irrigation facilities and promoting cottage industries.

• Constructing roads and bridges to improve connectivity in tribal areas .

4. Empowerment and Rights

Non-governmental organizations like ARPAN have been instrumental in:

• Organizing leadership training for Raji women to facilitate access to government schemes.

• Advocating for land rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

• Conducting action research to strengthen access to services like education and healthcare .