Projects allotted to NGOS The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has formulated the following schemes for the welfare of STs:- (a) Grants in aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. (b) Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts. (c) Vocational Training in Tribal Areas. (d) Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The objective of the schemes, inter-alia, is to encourage development of tribal through voluntary efforts for temporarily filling gaps in areas like health, education, livelihood etc. Ministry of Tribal Affairs had got evaluation of the schemes conducted by an Independent Agency in States of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The gap-filling intervention thorough these schemes have made positive impact in the life of needy tribals as reported by the independent evaluation study. 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
