The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has approved four new components under the existing Central Sector Scheme of Special Development Packages (SDPs) for Assam and Tripura with a total outlay of Rs.4,250 crore.

Rs.500 crore for development of infrastructure in Adivasi inhabited villages/areas of Assam as per the Memoranda of Settlement (MoS) signed by the Government of India and Government of Assam with the Adivasi Groups of Assam.

Rs.500 crore for development of infrastructure in the North Cacher Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) area of Dimasa National Liberation Army/ Dimasa People’s Supreme Council inhabited villages/areas of Assam as per the MoS signed by the Government of India and Government of Assam with the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) / Dimasa People’s Supreme Council (DPSC) Groups of Assam.

Rs.3,000 crore for development of infrastructure in the State of Assam as per the MoS signed by the government of India and government of Assam with the ULFA Groups of Assam.

Rs.250 crore for development of tribals of Tripura as per the MoS signed by the government of India and government of Tripura with the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) groups of Tripura.

The overall outlay of the proposed four new components will be Rs.7,250 crore, out of which Rs.4,250 crore will be provided under the existing Central Sector Scheme of Special Development Packages for Assam (Rs.4000 crore) and Tripura (Rs.250 crore), and the remaining Rs.3,000 crore will be contributed by the State Government of Assam from their resources.

Out of Rs.4,250 crore, an outlay of Rs.4,000 crore for a period of five years from Financial Year 205-26 to 2029-30 is for three components of Assam and an outlay of Rs.250 crore for a period of four years from Financial Year 2025-26 to 2028-29 is for one component of Tripura as per the Memorandum of Settlements signed among government of India, state governments of Assam and Tripura with respective ethnic groups of the concerned state.

Infrastructure & livelihood projects will create employment, will benefit youth and women via skill development, income generation, and local entrepreneurship and SDPs expected to bring stability and mainstream affected communities

The Scheme is specifically targeted towards the North Eastern States of Assam and Tripura.  It will promote equity through, improving the socio-economic condition of vulnerable & marginalised groups of people who have not benefited adequately from various existing Government schemes;

Boost employment opportunities, provide health services, promote education and skilling and income through livelihood activities for youth and women;

Increase inflow of tourists from other parts of the country, thereby creating additional employment and livelihood opportunities for the people of the North Eastern Region.

Through this, lakhs of people across Adivasi and Dimasa communities in Assam, people residing in various other districts of Assam and tribal communities of Tripura will be benefitted.

This is a new initiative under the ongoing Central Sector Scheme of Special Development Packages. The previous MoS-based packages (e.g., for Bodo and Karbi groups) have shown positive outcomes in peace-building and development.

It may be recalled here that the Memoranda of Settlement were signed among government of India, state government of Assam and Tripura with respective ethnic groups (Adivasi groups – 2022, DNLA/DPSC – 2023, ULFA – 2023, NLFT/ATTF – 2024). These MoSs aim to promote peace, inclusive development, and rehabilitation through infrastructure and socio-economic projects.