In a step apparently aimed at countering Congress’ thrust in the tribal region of the State, Chief Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a grand Rs 15,000 crore plan for tribal development, in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

To be spent over the next five years, the ambitious ‘10-point Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana’ translates into Rs 3,000 crore per annum, which is close to 20 per cent of each year’s annual plan size of the Government. Modi said the entire package would be implemented in a mission mode beginning this year.

In a clear sign that not all sections of the Government were not taken into confidence over the ambitious project, Tribal Development Minister Mangubhai Patel, when questioned from where the money would come for the scheme, expressed his inability to answer. “It is a CM’s scheme and he would know the answer,” said the Minister.

Leader of Opposition Arjun Modhvadia called it a panic reaction of a Government worried by the massive turnout of tribals at last month’s Sonia Gandhi rally in Devgadh Baria.

Projects under the Yojana include broadband connection to all tribal talukas; quality employment to five lakh tribal families; quality higher education through one science stream higher secondary school in each tribal taluka, one Navodaya or Eklavya type school in each tribal taluka, establishment of 100 more hostels for college students among others.