Schemes for ST welfare

Education

Article 46 of Part IV (“Directive Principles of State Policy”) of the Constitution enjoins upon the State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Article 38(2) of the same Part also enjoins upon the State to minimize inequities in income and to endeavor to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations.

Pre Matric scholarship

This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through States/UTs who are responsible for Inviting applications from students online through State Portal or National Scholarship Portal, check eligibility verification and disbursement of scholarship to eligible ST students directly to their bank accounts through DBT. Funds are released by this Ministry to the State Governments/UTs based on their proposal comprising of Statement of Expenditure, Furnishing of Utilization Certificate and Uploading of beneficiary data on DBT Portal.

The main features of the scheme are as under:

• Applicable to students who are studying in Classes IX – X.
• Parental income from all sources should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.
• Scholarships are paid @ Rs.225/- per month for Day Scholars and @ Rs.525/- per month for Hostellers, for a period of 10 months in a year.
• Funds shared at the ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and State Governments/UT and in ratio of 90:10 for NE and Specially Category States/UTs (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). For UT without legislature 100% grant is given by Centre.

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students

This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through States/UTs to grant scholarship to eligible ST students for pursuing higher education starting from class XI to Post Graduation courses in India. The scheme covers professional, technical as well as non-professional and non-technical courses at various levels including correspondence courses covering distance and continuing education. The Scheme was introduced during the year 1944-45 and has since been revised from time to time. 

Salient features:

• Applicable to students who are pursuing any recognized course from a recognized institution for which qualification is Matriculation/Class X or above.
• Parental income from all sources should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.
• Scholarship has 2 components. First is payment of compulsory fees charged by educational institutions subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State.
• Second is payment of Maintenance amount varying from Rs .230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study pursued by the student.
• Funds shared at the ratio of 75:25 between the Centre and State Governments/UT and in ratio of 90:10 for NE and Specially Category States/UTs (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). For UT without legislature 100% grant is given by Centre.

Benefits:

• Scholars are paid :-
• Fees for enrolment/registration, tuition, games, Union, Library, Magazine, Medical Examination and such other fees compulsorily payable by the scholar to the Institution or University/Board. The fee component will be decided by the State Level Fee Fixation Committee of the state. In case of students studying in private sector institutes there will be a ceiling of Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum per student for Engineering Courses and Rs.6.00 lakh per annum for MBBS/ MS/ MD courses and Rs.1.00 lakh per annum for other courses as far as support of Government of India is concerned. 
• Additional allowances to the ST students with disabilities at the prescribed rates for different degree of disability - 800/-per month (Rs. 9600 annually) to the Divyangjan student who is hosteller and Rs.600 (Rs 7200 annually) to Day scholar

Stipend is as mentioned below:-

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

National Scholarship Scheme (Top Class) For Higher Education of ST Students (erstwhile Top Class Education for ST Students)

This is a Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for ST students introduced from the academic year 2007-08 with the objective of encouraging meritorious ST students for pursing studies at Degree and Post Graduate level in any of the Institutes identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the purpose.

Salient features:

• This is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded and implemented by Central Govt. Scholarship is given to ST students for pursuing higher studies in prescribed courses in any of the 252 Premier Institutes of Country like IITs, AIIMS, IIMs, NIITs, etc. identified by the Ministry. Preference is given to girls, Divyang and PVTGs.
• Scholarship is given to 1000 fresh students every year, selected on merit based on marks of class XII.
• The Scholarship is given for entire duration of the course pursued by the student.
• Family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum.
• Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer.

Benefits:

• Full amount of tuition fee and other non-refundable dues in respect of Government/Government-funded institutions are paid.
• In case of students studying in private sector institutions a ceiling of Rs. 2.50 lakh per annum per student will apply normally.
• Stipend of Rs 3000/ - per month per student.
• Expenditure on Books and stationery is paid @ Rs. 5000/- per annum per student.
• Cost of a latest computer along with accessories limited to Rs. 45,000/- as one time assistance during the entire course is paid to the student.

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

National Fellowship Scheme For Higher Education of ST Students

This is a Central Sector Scheme fully funded and implemented by Central Govt since 2005-06, for pursuing MPhil and PhD in following:

• Universities/Institutions/Colleges included under section 2(f) /12(B) or 2(D) and 12(B) of UGC Act
• Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 and eligible to receive grants-in-aid from UGC.
• Universities/ Institutions/ Colleges funded by Central/ State Government.
• Institutes of National Importance.

Salient Features of Scheme

• Scholarship is provided to 750 fresh ST students every year each year for pursing M Phil and PhD selected on merit based on marks of Master Degree.
• Preference is given to girls, Divyangan and PVTGs.
• The Scholarship is given for entire duration of the course pursued by the student.
• Fellowship for M.Phil is provided @ Rs. 25000/- per month and for Ph.D @ Rs.28000/- per month.
• Contingency and HRA Allowance is also given to fellows as per guidelines.

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

National Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students

It is a Central Scheme to provide financial assistance to meritorious students for pursuing higher studies in foreign university in specified files of Master Level Courses, Ph.D and Post-Doctoral research programmes, in the field of Engineering, Technology and Science. The Scheme was introduced during the year 1954-55 and has since been revised from time to time. This was Non-Plan Scheme, which became a Plan Scheme from 2007-08.

• A total of 20 awards are given every year. Of these, 17 awards are for STs and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Selection is based on Interview based merit list prepared by An Expert Committee.
• Student is given 2 years to seek admission in a foreign University after selection in merit list.
• Parental/family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum.
• The Scholarship comprises of tuition fee, Annual Maintenance allowance of USD 15400, Contingency Charges of USD 1532, Poll Tax, Visa Fee, Medical Insurance, Cost of Air journey, Incidental Journey expenses.
• Scholarship is disbursed through Indian Missions abroad through the Ministry of External Affairs, who in turn is reimbursed by the Ministry.

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors. The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students. Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Hitherto, grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.

In order to give further impetus to EMRS, it has been decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an EMRS. Eklavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development. Across the country, there are 690 such schools have been opened. 

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS)

Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.

Centre of Excellence for Sports (CoE for Sports)

Dedicated infrastructure for setting up Centre of Excellence for sports with all related infrastructure (buildings, equipment’s etc.) is supported. This Centre of Excellence will have specialized state-of-the-art facilities for one identified individual sport and one group sport in each State. These CoE for Sports will have the State-of-the-Art facilities, equipment and scientific back up along with specialized training, boarding and lodging facilities, sports kit, sports equipment, competition exposure, insurance, medical expenses etc. as per norms of Sports Authority of India.

Livelihoods

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)

The scheme has been formulated with the merger of the two earlier schemes for promotion of tribal livelihood, i.e., “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through “Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP” and “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce”.

In the next five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26, the PMJVM has the vision to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, MFP/farm & non-farm, tribal product-based enterprises promoted under the scheme. TRIFED is the nodal implementing agency for the scheme.

Marketing and Logistics Development for Promoting Tribal Products from the North Eastern Region (PTP-NER)

The scheme has been approved during 2021-22 to strengthen livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans of North Eastern States of India through increased efficiency in procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products. TRIFED is the nodal implementing agency for the scheme.

Equity Support to National / State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC / STFDCs)

Under the scheme, the Ministry releases funds in the form of Equity Share Capital assistance to NSTFDC/STFDCs which is deployed for the purpose of giving concessional loans to eligible members of Scheduled Tribes.

NSTFDC provides concessional loans through the State Channelising Agencies nominated by the respective State Government, certain Public Sector/ Co-op. Banks, Regional Rural Banks having refinance agreement with NSTFDC and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Ltd., North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), NABKISAN Finance Ltd. (Subsidiary of NABARD) etc.

Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF-STs)

The scheme has been approved during 2021-22 and aims to promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Tribes and to provide concessional finance to them. 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. The scheme would be managed by IFCI VCF Ltd. 

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

Schemes for economic development trhough NSTFDC

National ST Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India provides financial assistance by way of soft loans for income generating activities for economic development to scheduled tribes aspirants.

The prominent schemes of NSTFDC are Term Loan, Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana – an exclusive scheme for Scheduled Tribe women, Adivasi Shiksha Rinn Yojana – Education Loan scheme, Micro Credit Scheme for Self Help Groups (SHGs) – comprising Scheduled Tribes as its members, Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme and Teak Growers Scheme.

To access the complete scheme details, click here.

State Grant

Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Scheme (SCA To TSS) - Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

The scheme of ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub- Plan (SCA to TSP)’ was being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs since 1977-78. After amalgamation of Plan and Non-Plan, the scheme was known as ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS)’ since 2017. Under SCA to TSS, funds were provided to the State Governments for various projects in sectors like education, health, agriculture, skill development, employment-cum-income generation, etc.

To further and improve basic services and facilities in villages with significant tribal population, it has been decided to revamp SCA to TSS into ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)’ for integrated development of villages in an outcome-oriented and time- bound manner during the years 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Under the Scheme, 36,428 villages having at least 50% tribal population and 500 STs across States / UTs with notified STs have been identified for undertaking development programmes / activities through convergence approach to bridge gaps prominently in 8 sectors of development viz. Road connectivity (Internal and Inter village /block), Telecom connectivity (Mobile /internet), School, Anganwadi Centres, Health Sub-Centre, Drinking water facility, Drainage and solid waste management. During 2021-22 and 2022-23, a total of about 16554 villages have been taken up. So far, an amount of Rs. 2133.39 Crore has already been released to the States under the scheme.

To access the complete scheme guidelines, click here.

Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India

Grants-in-aid under Provison to Article 275(1) of Constitution of India are 100% annual grant from Government of India to States. It is charged to Consolidated Fund of India (except grants for NE States, a voted item).

Constitution of India provides as under:

"Article 275. Grants from the Union to certain States — (1) Such sums 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 the Scheduled Tribes in that state or raising the level of administration of the Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State."

Scheme for Development of PVTG

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is the nodal Ministry for the overall policy, planning and coordination of the programmes for the development of STs and PVTGs. The dedicated Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) is implemented by the MoTA through State Governments and UT Administrations covering all the 75 PVTGs. The scheme aims at planning for the socio-economic development of the PVTGs in a comprehensive manner while retaining the culture and heritage of the community by adopting habitat development approach and intervening in all spheres of their social and economic life, so that a visible impact is made in improvement of the quality of life of PVTGs.

The scheme follows the strategic approach which is need-based and strives to optimize utilization of resources available under various programmes and aims at specific outcomes. The scheme covers funding for activities like housing, enhancement of education and health infrastructure, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, construction of link roads and installation of non-conventional sources of energy for lighting purpose, irrigation, social security (including Janshree Bima Yojana), skill development and upgradation, conservation of culture or any other innovative activity meant for inclusive development of PVTGs. The funds under this scheme are made available only for important activities for the survival, protection and development of PVTGs and which are not specifically catered to by any other scheme of the State or the Central Government or by guidelines governing the utilization of funds under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme and Article 275(1) of the Constitution. The scheme is implemented through ITDA by State Government.

To access the complete details of the abover schemes, click here.

NGO scheme

he Central Government and State Governments implement a number of schemes for the welfare & development of STs. However, VOs/NGOs also play an important role in enhancing the reach of Government Schemes and in filling the critical gaps of service deficient tribal areas. While governmental efforts are supplemented through VOs/NGOs to achieve the ultimate objective of delivery of services to remote and unreached tribal areas, the standard of services provided is equally important. Each partner VO/NGO is, therefore, expected to strive towards delivery of quality services.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the following schemes for the socio economic and educational development of STs through State Societies/VOs/NGOs which supplement Governmental efforts :-

• Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organisations (VOs) working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes .
• Strengthening Education Among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts.

To know more about these schemes, click here.

Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs