Ministry of Tribal Affairs revamps the schemes for comprehensive development of Tribals
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing schemes like Pre Matric and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, Grants Under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, etc. for tribal welfare
- Many existing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna have been merged, revamped and their scope has been widened
- These are meant for the comprehensive development of tribals
- The funds for these are released to the State Government based on the proposals received from it
All the Schemes at a glance
- Pre Matric and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme.
- Grants Under Article 275(1) of the Constitution
- SCA to TSS which has been now revamped as Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna
- Grants for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
- Support to TRIs.
Pre-Conditions for the States
- State is required to send proposals afresh for each financial year.
- All proposals received from the States are either approved or rejected in the same financial year based on the availability of funds,
- The necessity of the project is based on the gap analysis and performance of the State in similar projects sanctioned in previous years.
Pre Matric and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
- It is demand based scheme
- Every ST student whose family income is upto Rs 2.5 lakhs is entitled to scholarship for pursuing education from class IX to Post Doctorate across India.
- The states send the proposal for the estimated expenditure during the financial year based on the expenditure incurred in previous years and advance upto 50% of Central share is released to the States
Grants Under Article 275(1), SCA to TSS and PVTG scheme
- Special Central Assistance(SCA) to Tribal sub-schemes(TSS) and PVTG schemes, the state is required to submit proposals duly approved by the State level executive committee (SLEC).
- The Proposals are examined by the Project Approval Committee under chairmanship of Secretary Tribal Affairs, which are then concurred by Finance division.
- Each state allocated a share in these 3 schemes based on criteria of population of that state and geographical area.
- The funds are released to the State after taking into account the unspent funds released in previous years, the status of utilization of funds and the physical proposal report submitted on the Adivasi Grant Management System (ADIGRAMS).
Support to TRIs
- The funds are given to TRIs based on the proposals received from them for undertaking various activities like:
- Research projects,
- Training,
- Cultural exchange,
- Organization of festivals,
- Craft mela,
- Painting and other competitions etc.
- The funds also released to TRIs for upgradation /construction of TRI Building, museum and infrastructure like tribal monuments etc.
Schemes which are revamped for comprehensive development of tribals
Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna
- The scope of this existing scheme has been broadened wherein comprehensive development of 36,428 villages will be undertaken in convergence with line Ministries to develop these villages as Adarsh Gram, under ‘Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana’.
- Adarsh Gram is one which has adequate physical and institutional infrastructure, in which minimum needs of all sections of the society are fully met;
- They live in harmony with each other, as also with the environment, and a village which is progressive and dynamic.
- These villages should be covered with all the facilities necessary for dignified living, creating thereby an environment in which all its residents are enabled to utilise their potential to the fullest
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
- It seeks to achieve livelihood driven tribal development in the next five years through formation of Van Dhan groups who have been organised into Vandhan Kendras.
- The minor forest produce gathered by tribals will be processed in these kendras and marketed through Van Dhan Producer Enterprises.
- New haats bazaar and ware houses will be developed in next 5 years as part of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”.
- TRIFED would be the nodal agency for implementing the scheme.
- The products produced will be marketed through Tribe India Stores.
Venture Capital Fund for STs
- An amount of Rs. 50 cr. has been sanctioned for the new scheme of ‘Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes’ (VCF-ST)
- It is aimed at promoting Entrepreneurship among the STs.
- The VCF-ST scheme would be a social sector initiative to promote ST entrepreneurship and to support and incubate the start-up ideas by ST youth.