A number of Developmental Programmes and schemes have been implemented in the ITDA areas for the economic development of STs. Two projects with an external aid from International Fund for Agriculture Development, Rome were also implemented. Currently two major projects, AP Rural Poverty Reduction Project and AP Community Forest Project are also being implemented in tribal areas. Because of various such efforts put in the past as well as the efforts that are currently put in practice there is a substantial economic development and growth in tribal areas.


But one major problem that is often taken notice in this process is that some times the efforts are too thinly spread and in some cases, the successful efforts are not being replicated or scaled up due to various factors. Most of the times due to diversification of efforts, the concentration and focus due to be rendered towards productive areas is not being rendered to. In the ultimate cost-benefit analysis huge investments are found without yielding expected results.

This issue has been engaging the attention of Government and in order to rectify this situation it is now decided to focus the energies on select areas by integrating the finances, planning and by converging the efforts. Following are the guidelines on how to operationalize this concept into practice:

Areas that would accelerate the economic growth and quality of tribal economy. The thrust areas can be (a) expansion of a successful activity such as horticulture plantation or minor irrigation (b) Introducing a new species or crop or cropping pattern such as soya (c) Value addition program such as processing of medicinal plants (d) Scaling up of agriculture on commercial lines such as vegetable cultivation (e) Small scale agro processing Industries such as processing of pulses etc.,

Construction of tanks, check dams, kuntas, irrigation wells, drilling of tube wells, artisan wells, L.I. schemes, Laying of canals, extension of canals, rising of bunds, desalting of tanks, development of command area, land development etc.,

Value addition by primary processing, secondary processing, by certification, by raising seed llultiplication farms, by securing IPRs for indigenous know how in medicinal and herbal plants, practices etc.,

All efforts that promote collective bargaining, store houses, market yards, cold storages, transportation, support to local groups for transportation, market intelligence, local weighing scales, improvement of shandies, services etc.,

Training to the STs such as farmers, NTFP collectors, SHGs, youth etc., in support to the various interventions proposed under thrust areas. The training is generally a foundation/orientation course expected to create awareness among the partners/ groups

Skill building is intensive training programme aimed at specific skill building for carrying out a proposed economic activity. For e.g., skill building in processing of medicinal plants;

Include costs for implementation. The costs should be of recurring in nature and no additional staff costs are allowed. NO permanent infrastructure is permitted.