Employment-Cum-Income Generation Activities under TSP Multipronged efforts are being made by the central and State Governments 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 Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for economic development of tribals in the States covering skill development and employment-cum-income generation activities. During 2014-15 and 2015-16, the Ministry has impressed upon the State Governments for promotion of need based integrated livelihood initiatives such as Dairy development with State cooperative, horticulture, floriculture, vegetable production, apiculture, sericulture, fisheries, backyard poultries etc. in order to create enabling environment for tribals to earn their livelihood and increase direct / indirect employment opportunities. Further, thrust has been put forth for (1) Integration of mainstream education with vocation training, with a view to primarily target dropouts, providing them employability and income-generating opportunities. (2) Building skill for the job market outside and rural non-farm sector, Ministry has been supporting skill development activities for both male and female tribal youth in a wide gamut of trades such as (i) Office Management (ii) Solar Technician / Electrician (iii) Beautician (iv) Handicraft (v) Skills required for day to day construction works (such as Plumbing, Mason, Electrician, Fitter, Welder, Carpenter (vi) Refrigeration and A/C repairing (vii) Mobile repairing (viii) Nutrition (x) Ayurvedic and tribal medicines (xi) IT (xii) Data Entry (xiii) Fabrication (xiv) Paramedics and Home Nurse Training (xv) Automobile Driving and Mechanics (xvi) Electric & Motor Winding (xvii) Security Guard (xviii) Housekeeping & Management (xix) Retail Management (xx) Hospitality (xxi) Eco-tourism (xxii) Adventure Tourism. 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) facilitates 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. Formulation and implementation of employment-cum-income generation programmes under Tribal Sub Plan is a continuous process and the same is carried out by the State Governments through its designated agencies. State Governments are insisted upon to timely submit Utilization Certificate as per GFR norms on regular basis. The data regarding physical targets achieved for direct/indirect employment is not centrally maintained in the Ministry. This information was given by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. Samir/jk
