With reference to letters received from the various states seeking clarification as to what percentage of subsidy is to be given under SCA to TSP to individuals/groups beneficiaries against the loans. I am directed to say that the objective of SCA has been expanded to cover the employment-cum-generation activities of not only the families but also run by the self-help groups/community and also the infrastructure incidental thereto. The ultimate objective of SCA to TSP is to boost the income-generation programmes and thus raise the economic and social status of tribals.

The guidelines of SCA at no stage provide for subsidies in obtaining loans from the banks. The focus in the new guidelines is on the community-based employment generating activities preferably through the self-help groups. Moreover, the distribution of assets that too where is being done by the Ministry of Rural Development under the scheme of SGSY and there is no point in duplicating the effort. Our focus is on community-based activities to boost income generation.

Further, the Ministry is focusing on the community based programmes for overall improvement of the tribal area on the basis of the micro planning and in this regard the special focus is being given to the water sheds, minor irrigation works on the tribal land, collection & processing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and also the value addition of the natural resource-base right at the grass root level. As per the guidelines each state is supposed to identify the thrust areas relevant for the respective ITDA/ITDP out of the illustrative list of the permissible activities given in Annexure-I of the guidelines and then implement Schemes/Programmes preferably through SHGs.

The state Government may, however, continue to finance the bankable income generation schemes/project for economic development of eligible STs through the State channelising agencies of NSTFDC at subsidised interests rates or through commercial banks claiming admissible subsidy under SGSY.

As you are aware ‘Special Central Assistance for Tribal Sub-Plan’ and scheme under ‘Provisio to Article 275(1) of the Constitution’ are two flagship programmes of this Ministry.

While reviewing the performance of these two programmes, it was felt that there is a need to monitor the performance of the programmes on the basis of identifiable, measurable and monitorable outputs/outcomes as they may enable us to evaluate the proper utilization of grants released to the state governments. It has, therefore, been decided that from the current year i.e 2005-06 under SCA to TSP, all the state Governments have to supply the following information for every project approved last year and their proposed projects for the current year.

Number of ST beneficiaries assisted.

Component-wise physical assets/opportunities created.

Agriculture/Horticulture – in hectares

Watershed development/soil & Moisture conservation in hectares.

Animal Husbandry - in numbers

Ecology & Environment including development of forests - in hectares or quantum of MFP procured.

Development of forest villages - 1500.

Development of Entrepreneurship - number of persons assisted.

Percentage of women covered in all the components.

3.Similarly, under ‘Provision to Article 275(1) of the constitution’ the following information is to be provided.

No.of other buildings constructed (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

Kms of permanent roads built (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

No.of bridges/culverts constructed (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

No.of check dams and water retention and other structures constructed (in case of the grants releasedin earlier years.)

Improvement in minor irrigation - in hectares (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

Electricity provided to number of households/community (Non-conventional/conventional) -in numbers (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

Ekalavya Model Residential Schools: (a) No.of Schools constructed (b) No.of students enrolled

(c) No.of Students passed (in case of the grants released in earlier years.)

The same yardstick will also be applicable on the projects undertaken during the current year. It is, therefore, requested that information on the aforesaid points be brought to the meeting of the Secretaries to be held from 28th June, 2005.

The same yardstick will also be applicable on the projects undertaken during the current year. It is, therefore, requested that information on the aforesaid points be brought to the meeting of the Secretaries to be held from 28th June, 2005.