Development schemes

SCA to TSS:

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been undertaking various endeavors for socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes (ST) through schemes on Infrastructure of marketing, textiles, fisheries, agriculture, education, health, livelihood, etc. Major parts of infrastructure development in Tribal dominated areas and provision of basic amenities to tribal people in the state are carried out through various schemes concerning Central Ministries and State Government. Against this backdrop, the scheme “Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Tribal Sub-Scheme (TSS)” is part of the development of ST People and is directed towards providing grants to States/UTs as an additive to their own efforts for accelerating tribal development and strengthening institutional arrangements. The Scheme ‘SCA to TSS’ is a centrally sponsored scheme where 100% grant from the Government of India is given to states. States having notified STs are eligible to receive grants under the program. Proposals targeting women beneficiaries have been given priority. APTDC Ltd. has been working as an implementing agency under WPT &BC, Assam (Nodal Agency) for supervision and monitoring of such schemes. Ongoing projects include the Constriction of 32nos of boundary walls on various schools and colleges.

FOIGS ( Family Orientation Income Generating Scheme )

Objective:

The objective of the scheme is to scale up the economic standards of the ST farmers / unemployed ST youths by providing them individual machinery/vehicles etc as sustenance to raise living standards. The people belonging to the ST (P) communities of Assam are mostly engaged in agriculture activities for their livelihood using traditional methods which provide low yield and reflects in the economic disparity seen among the ST people of Assam. Providing modem agriculture equipment and other types of machinery will augment the production and productivity of the crops and in turn, ameliorate their economic condition.

PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION OF BENEFICIARIES:

  1. 1) 2(two) committees, viz. the District Level Selection Committee (DLSC) and State Level Selection Committee (SLSC) will be constituted for selection and apptoval of beneficiaries respectively. The DLSC will be the authodty for selection of beneficiaries at the Disttict level and the SLSC will be the final authority for approval of beneficiaries for distribution of FOIGS.
  2. 2) The DLSC will invite applications from intending applicants in a presctibed fotmat along with all relevant documents through wide publicity.
  3. 3) The received applications will be scrutinized by the DLSC and selection of eligible beneficiades will be done twice the nos. of allocated FOIGS rvhich will be communicated to the Director, WPT & BC along with all relevant documents through the PD, ITDPs/SDWOs.
  4. 4) The Director, WPT & BC on receipt of approved list of benef,ciaries from DLSC will place the same for selection/apptoval of the SLSC.
  5. 5) The beneficiaries approved by the DLSC do not indicate the actual list of beneficiaries and the finalization lies solely with the apex body viz. the SLSC.

ARTICLE 275(I) of Constitution:

Constitution of India provides as under:

“Article 275(I) grants from the Union to certain States-(I) Such sum as Parliament may by law provide shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be in need of assistance and different sums may be fixed for different states.”

Provided that there shall be paid out of the consolidated fund of India as grants-in-aid of the revenues of a State. Such capital and recurring sums as may be necessary to enable that State to meet the costs of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of promoting the Welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the State.

Grants-in-aid under Provision to Article 275(I) of the Constitution of India is a 100% annual grant from the Government of India to States. It is an addition to State initiatives and efforts for Tribal Government. The state has notified STs are eligible to receive grants under this program.

Objectives for Program/activities funded with Grants-in-Aid under Provision to Act 275(I) of Indian Constitution like: – 

  1. Human Resource Development by enhancing their excess to education and health services.
  2. Enhanced quality of life by raising the level of administration of the Scheduled areas etc.
  3. Substantial reduction in poverty and unemployment through skill upgradation and other income generating opportunities etc.

APTDC Ltd. being the implementing agency under WPT&BC Department (Nodal Agency), various ongoing schemes like the constitution of boundary walls at colleges/schools, the constitution of Anganwadi Centers, Constitution of Hostels(boys/girls), Development of sporting facilities, Constitution of community fisheries, etc. is being monitored under this office.

SOPD/Infrastructure Development Program:

For the benefit of Schedule Tribes Community, there is a budgetary provision from the Government of Assam every year for various Infrastructural Development programs within ITDP and outside ITDP areas of Assam. Every year, various development schemes have been taken up such as the constitution of the community hall, model villages, libraries, deep tube wells, the constitution of school buildings,  development of roads to ease the connectivity with major parts of the State, SDWO Office, etc. have been undertaken across various ST areas of Assam under APTDC Ltd. as the Implementing Agency under WPT&BC being the Nodal Agency.

Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price and development of value chain of Minor forest produce.

HAAT BAZAAR

  1. 1. Modernization of Haat Bazaars: Under this model MPMFP Federation developed ‘Apni Dhukan’ near to selected Haat Bazaars. These units will be used for the procurement of MFPs from the collectors at MSP rate, which is declared by the government.
     
    2. Small Godowns (Capacity up to 50 MT): These Godowns are constructed for storing the MFPs collected from Haat Bazaars. One Godown will be linked to two or three Modernized Haat Bazaars.

Modernizations of Haats

The identified MFPs will be procured from the gatherers at village/ haat level centers where the gatherers bring their produce after collection, drying, cleaning & grading for sale. State agencies have to establish an adequate number of such procurement centers. In some States, the Governments have already taken measures to provide facilities like construction of platforms, shades, etc. However, in many other States, the purchase & sale of commodities (MFP/SAP, etc.) in haats is done in the open and thus buyers and sellers have to face a lot of problems during the rainy & hot summer season. In order to improve the condition of these places and establish a formal structure where trading can take place in a systematic manner, Haats shall be modernized.

Modernization of haats will be done by State agencies in consultation with Gram
Sabha/ Panchayat and District Administration.

Creation of storage facilities at aggregation points

The stocks procured by State designated agencies in each haat bazaar may be too small and therefore, would need to be transported to the aggregation centers from where bulk quantity will be transported to the centrally located godown/ cold storage exist or to be provided. Therefore, it is essential to establish a godown of 50 MTs at block level to aggregate the stocks procured at each haat.

The idea is to establish an infrastructure where examples of livelihood through
value addition shall be created. Such examples shall be replicated at other places on its success.