Development For Tribal People: Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

Development For Tribal People: Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs recently launched the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana/VKY for the welfare of tribal people. The efforts are particularly on to lift human development indices of tribal, indigenous persons in the country. This scheme was launched during the meeting of Tribal welfare ministers of States as well as UTs. The scheme launched on pilot basis is in each block of the following states: Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana guarantees that the Union Government will provide INR 10 crores for each block for development of various amenities and facilities for tribal people. Blocks have been selected on the basis of recommendations of the states concerned and there is currently low literacy rates in these blocks.

The aim of the scheme is to focus on closing the infrastructural gaps as well as blocks in human development indices between scheduled tribes and other social groups. The yojana also emphasises the convergence of different Central and state government schemes with an approach that is outcome oriented. Under this scheme, the blocks with at least 33% of the tribal population in comparison to the total population of the block will be targeted.

Initiatives have also been taken up by the Ministry for the strengthening of existing and current institutions for delivery of goods and services for tribal people. This includes the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies, Integrated Development Project and evolution of new ones, wherever necessary. Specific funds will be given to the State governments for the utilisation of institutional mechanisms and strengthening them to meet the goals of development in the tribal areas.

The Ministry also approved the recognition of the another centre of excellence in tribal language and literature namely the VIshva Bharati Shanti Niketan. A proposal was also made to establish a National Research Centre in the Tribal Research Institute at Bhubhaneshwar, the capital city of Odisha. The Ministry also sanctioned 184 Eklavya Modal residential schools for providing quality education to tribal students.

Minister for tribal welfare, Shri Oram also informed that the ministry had taken up efforts to implement schemes to ensure forest dwellers are not deprived of their earnings, in the context of the MFP or Minor Forest Produce issue. A web based portal has bend launched to provide current prices of MFPs on real time basis for various mandis in the states including Sal leaves, wild honey, sal seeds and tamarind.