MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)
(a) & (b): The Ministry has not launched any new specific employment scheme for Tribals / Scheduled Tribes in the country. However, Government is pursuing a holistic approach to ameliorate the situation of unemployment among ST population across the country. Ministry of Tribal Affairs under its Special Area Programme of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP) and other Central Sector / Centrally Sponsored schemes provides funds as an additive to the State Plan for economic development of tribals in the States covering skill development and employment -cum-income generation activities. During the current financial year, the Ministry has impressed upon the State Governments for promotion of need based integrated livelihood initiatives and skill upgradation of tribals to get them respectable jobs such as:
Diversified crops, horticulture, dairy development with State cooperative, backyard poultry, fisheries, apiculture, sericulture etc. with proper market linkages.
Financing under line department schemes like milk cooperatives.
Marketable traditional skills like paintings, handlooms, handicrafts, artisans, skilled employment and other arts & crafts.
Entrepreneurship.
Modern skills: solar cell assembly and electrician, mobile phone repair etc. with appropriate placements.
Eco tourism in Tribal areas.
Skills for women: Computer training hospitality, paramedics, ayurvedic and tribal medicines & medical practices etc. It is advocated to expend 50% of the allocated funds to the State Governments for female beneficiaries.
In addition, National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, promotes entrepreneurial development amongst Scheduled Tribes. This Corporation provides concessional financial assistance to individuals or groups of STs for undertaking self-employment income generation activities through its channelizing agencies. Further, Tribal Co -Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) imparts skill development and capacity building training to tribal Minor Forest Produce (MFP) gatherers and tribal artisans.
Besides these, Government has also taken other steps to provide employment to tribal population. Some of the major initiatives are enlisted below:-
(i) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) guaranteeing 150 days wage employment to STs households living in forest area who have got pattas under the Forest Right Act 2006.
(ii) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
(iii) Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF) to facilitate and upscale civil society action in partnership with Government for transforming livelihoods and lives of rural households, with an emphasis on women, particularly in the Central Indian Tribal Region.
(c) to (e): Implementation of skill development / employment-cum-income generation programmes is a continuous process and the same is carried out by the State Governments through its implementing agencies or under PPP mode. The data regarding jobs provided to the ST population in various sectors including Public Sector Undertakings is not centrally maintained in the Ministry.
