Annual Report

Achievement during the year 2023-24

 

Achievement during the year 2023-24

The Department of Welfare for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes was established in 24^th October, 1970 with the objective of socio-economic development as well as over all development of the most under-privileged sections of the society namely, the Scheduled Tribes (STs) & Scheduled Castes (SCs). In 1982, the Tribal Welfare Department started functioning as a separate Department with a view to give more focused attention on the integrated socio-economic, educational and cultural development of scheduled tribes people.

In this regard, various steps are being taken especially for creating educational infrastructure facilities, skill development, income generation, promotion and preservation of the culture of the Scheduled Tribes.

Major achievements during the financial year 2023-24 are depicted below:-

• Educational Program

1. Boarding House Stipend

Boarding House Stipend are being provided @ Rs. 80/- per day per students for maximum number of 322 days in an academic year. There are 409 nos. of approved Boarding Houses in the State. During 2023-24, Boarding House Stipend has been provided to 33,923 nos. ST students with financial involvement of Rs. 7258.56 lakh.

2. Pre-Matric Scholarship

 

       i. Under this scheme, scholarship is provided @ Rs 40/- per month to the ST students from Class: VI to VIII for a period of 10 (ten) months in an academic year. During 2023-24, Pre-Matric Scholarship has been provided to 22,517 nos. ST students with financial involvement of Rs. 95.66 Lakh.

2. For the students of Class: IX to X, Scholarship is provided @ Rs. 525/- for Hosteller  and @ Rs. 225/- for Day Scholars per month under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for a period of 10 (ten) months in a academic year. Book and Ad hoc Grants @ Rs. 1,000/- per annum for Hosteller and @ Rs. 750/- per annum for Day Scholars are also provided. The ST students whose annual family income does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/- are eligible for getting this  Scholarship. Pre-metric Scholarship (IX-X) are being implemented through National Scholarship Portal (NSP 2.0). Pre-Matric Scholarship (IX-X) have been provided to 15,017 nos. ST students against the application of 2022-23.

 

3. Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS)

Post-Matric Scholarship is provided to the students of Class XI and above for continuing higher studies for 10 months. The ST students whose annual family income is not more than Rs.2,50,000/- are eligible for getting Post-Matric Scholarship (higher studies). The scholarship have two components, (A) Payment of compulsory non-refundable fees for the course pursued by the student and (B) Monthly stipend.

 

1. The fee component depends on type of course pursued by the student. The courses have been divided in 4 categories.

 

Group	Courses
I	Graduate and Post Graduate courses leading to Degree, PG Diploma, MPhil, PhD in professional courses in various streams.
II	All non-professional recognized courses leading to a Graduate, Post Graduate Degree not covered under Group-I in Arts, Science and Commerce like BA/B.Sc/B.Com or MA/MSc/M.Com etc.
III	Vocational stream, ITI courses, 3 year diploma courses in Polytechnics, etc.
IV	All post-matriculation level non-degree courses for which entrance qualification is High School (Class-X) e.g. senior secondary certificate (class XI and XII)

 

2. The student will be entitled to stipend as per rates (per months) listed below:-

Groups	Hostellers (in Rs.)	Day Scholars (in Rs.)
I	1200.00	550.00
II	820.00	530.00
III	570.00	300.00
IV	380.00	230.00

 

Post-Matric Scholarship have been provided to 37,380 nos. ST students against the application of 2022-23.

4. Merit Award

            The meritorious ST students are encouraged for their excellence in studies. Students who secured 60% and above marks in their Annual Examination from Class VI to IX & XI and Madhyamik / School Final / HSLC Examination and H.S (10+2) Examination from any recognized board are awarded along with a certificate. Yearly Merit award rates in various levels are given in the following table:

Sl	Class	Yearly rate of merit award
		ST Boys	ST Girls
1.	Class VI to next higher class	400	500
2.	Class VII to next higher class	500	600
3.	Class VIII to next higher class	600	700
4.	Class IX to next higher class	700	800
5.	Madhyamik or equivalent	1,400	1,500
6.	Class XI to next higher class	1,400	1,500
7.	H.S (+2) Stage	3,500	4,000
8.	Special Merit Award for Madhyamik Examination or equivalent examination securing 80% marks in average	5,000	5,000
9.	Special Merit Award  who passed  H.S. (+2) or equivalent examination   securing 80% marks in average	10,000	10,000
10.	Special Merit Award, who secured 1st to 10th rank in merit position in the Madhyamik/ H.S (+2) Examination	50,000	50,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During 2023-24, Merit Award has been provided to 5,946 nos. ST students with financial involvement of Rs. 87.39 lakh. 

5. One Time Financial Support (OTFS):

       OTFS is provided to economically weaker and meritorious ST students in addition to Post-Matric Scholarship for pursuing professional courses (Both Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate & Diploma courses). Under this scheme, lump sum financial support of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) are being provided in 2(two) installments. During 2023-24, OTFS has been provided to 422 nos. ST students with financial involvement of Rs. 160.00 lakh.

6. Supply of Free Text Books:

Under this scheme financial assistance in lieu of textbooks is given to the students of Class IX and above classes. Rate of supply of free text books for Class: IX-X is Rs. 300/-, Class: XI is Rs. 350/-, Class: XII is Rs. 400/- and Degree is Rs. 500/- . During 2023-24, financial support under Free Text Books scheme has been provided to 16,600 nos. ST students with financial involvement of Rs.149.99 lakhs. 

7. Special Coaching in Core Subjects:

Under the scheme, tutorial guidance is given to the ST boarders of the Hostels attached to the Government run High/ Higher Secondary Schools reading in Classes VI to XII. Coaching is given in English, Mathematics & Science subjects for the period of 6 (six) months. The teachers are provided honorarium @ Rs.4, 000/- and Group-D @ Rs.500/- per month. During 2023-24, Special Coaching in Core subject has been provided to 10,082 nos. ST boarders with financial involvement of Rs. 324.62 lakh.

8. Supplementary Education for Elementary Classes (SEEC)– 2022:

A new scheme namely “Supplementary Education for Elementary Classes (SEEC) – 2022” has been introduced to provide supplementary education to ST students of Lower Kinder Garden (LKG) to Class- V with modern education technique. Duration of classes is 25 days a month from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the residence of tutor or any other community building. Every center shall enroll at least 15 (fifteen) & maximum 25 (twenty five) students in a unit/ center and for Bru Settlement sites maximum 30 (thirty) students in a unit/ center. During 2023-24 coaching have been provided to 10,138 nos. ST students through 413 centres amount involvement of Rs. 176.54 lakh.

9. As a part of modernization steel cots, mattress, bed materials, blankets, mosquito net, study table, chair have been provided to the boarders of ST hostel.

 

     10. Establishment of Ekalavya Model Residential School (Class VI to XII):

With an aim to provide quality upper primary, secondary and senior secondary level education to ST and PVTG students in Tribal dominated areas, along with extra-curricular activities, to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with general population, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are being established for ST and PVTG students through the country. In Tripura at present, 6 nos. EMR schools are functional at 1) Khumulwng under West Tripura District, 2) B.C. Nagar under South District, 3) Kumarghat under Unakoti District, 4) Rajnagar under Khowai District, 5) Killa under Gomati District & 6) Ambassa under Dhalai District. Hon'ble Prime Minister of India has inaugurated 480 seated EMRS building at Karbook & Rupaichari on 09/03/2024. Construction work of another 13 nos. new EMRS are in progress.

11. Infrastructure Development:

• Market shed cum Night Shelter at lake chowmuhani, Agartala has been constructed.
• Under PMAAGY amount of Rs.27.3723 cr. has been provided to All DM and Collector for development of 282 nos. Villages during 2023-24.     

 

• Economic Development

1. Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana:

     57 nos. Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKs) have been sanctioned (during 2019-20: 17 nos. ; 2020-21: 15 nos. and 2021-22: 25 nos.) which are being made functional for procurement and value addition of Minor Forest Produces like Broom Grass, Amla, Tamarind, Gandhaki etc. under PMJVM.  Besides, TRIFED, MoTA, Govt. of India has sanctioned for an amount of Rs. 58.17 lakh for establishment of 27 nos. Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKs) under PM JANMAN during the FY 2023-24. Now all 27 are being made functional.

2. Special package of Government of India of 100 crore for development of tribals:

• 1,016 nos. families have been benefited under different Income Generation Activities like. Arecanut plantation, Goatery, Cattle farming, Agriculture equipment and financial assistance for small business.
• 90 nos. ST beneficiaries benefited for purchasing Auto Rickshaw.
• Construction of 100 nos. Market Stall and Construction of 17 nos. NGO Hostel & other infrastructure facilities are in progress.

3. Chief Ministers Rubber Mission:

     Under Chief Ministers Rubber Mission during the year 2023-24, altogether 17,842 nos. beneficiary were benefited covering 24,784 ha. Rubber plantation.

4. Mukhyamantri Janajati Bikash Yojana:

     A new scheme “Mukhyamantri Janajati Bikash Yojana” has been launched in the financial year 2023-24. Under this scheme ST beneficiaries belonging to PHH/ PG/ AAY/ AAY (Bru) families are provided financial assistance @ Rs.25,000/- per family for rearing of goatery, piggery and other ARD based activities. During 2023-24 total 2,905 ST beneficiaries have bee provided financial assistance under the scheme and total financial involvement was Rs. 726.25 lakh.

5. Chief Minister’s Tribal Development Mission:

Chief Minister’s Tribal Development Mission has been launched on 15^th November, 2023 on the occasion of State Level Janajatiya Gaurav Divas. Keeping this in view. Chief Minister’s Tribal Development Mission focusing Education, Health & Nutrition, sanitation, drinking water, livelihood etc.

•  Promotion of Art & Culture and Fairs & Festivals

1. Folk Arts & Culture (Fairs & Festivals):

To maintain, promote and revive the traditional culture of the tribals, supports to the observation of major tribal festival is extended under the scheme. Mela, Exhibitions, Pujas, Conferences of tribal leaders etc. are also held under the scheme. During 2023-24, an amount of Rs. 80.00 lakh have been spent for organization of  46 nos. Festivals/ Mela etc.

•  Health Programme

1.  Nucleus Budget

      Nucleus Budget scheme guideline have been revised, Financial assistance provided to the poor tribals for medical treatment and purchase of medicine. The BDOs have been authorized to sanction an amount not exceeding Rs. 800/- only per patients; The SDWOs have been empowered to sanction an amount not exceeding Rs. 1,000/- only per patients; The SDMs, and DWOs have been authorized to sanction an amount  not exceeding Rs. 1,500/- only per patients; DM & Collector have been authorized to sanction an amount not exceeding Rs.6,000/- only per patients; Director, Tribal Welfare Department have been authorized to sanction not exceeding Rs. 6,000/- per patients only for treatment inside the state; Principal Secretary/Secretary, Govt. of Tripura may sanction not exceeding Rs. 15,000/- only per patients In special circumstances Government may sanction up to Rs. 20,000/- only per patient for treatment outside the State. During 2023-24 an amount of Rs. 80.00 lakh has been spent under Nucleus Budget scheme for 1,530 nos. ST patients.

• Implementation of Sch. Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. 

 

 

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (ROFR) Act, 2006 had been successfully implemented in the State. Under this Act, so far 1,31,564 forest dwellers have been vested with forest rights out of 2,00,413 applications filed by the Forest Dwellers. Details of implementation of RoFR Act, 2006 are given below (as on 31^st March, 2024):-

• Total no. of Application received                                          : 2,00,413
• Total no. of forest rights so far vested                                  : 1,31,564
• Total no. of forest rights so far vested to S.T families          : 1,31,562
• Total no. of forest rights so far vested to OFD                     : 2
• Quantum of land involved (hectare)                                      : 1,86,818.51
• Quantum of land involved for ST families (hectare)             : 1,86,818.03
• Quantum of land involved for OFD (hectare)                       : 0.48
• Demarcation of land completed through GPS (in nos.)         : 1,24,779
• Pillaring completed (in nos.)                                                 : 1,22,261                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

• Tripura Scheduled Tribes Cooperative Development Corporation Ltd.

 

       The Tripura Scheduled Tribes Cooperative Development Corporation Ltd. was established under the Cooperative Societies Act. 1974. The Corporation was registered in the year 1979.

      The main objectives of the Tripura Scheduled Tribes Cooperative Development Corporation Ltd. is development of economic condition of the poor unemployed tribal people of the state by extending financial help through providing loan under various schemes with easy terms and condition at a low rate of interest. Besides, soft loan is also provided to the ST students for higher studies.

      During the year 2023-24, Rs.696.35 lakhs was provided to the 212 nos. ST youths as loan under small business, transport business and Agri. & Allied etc. for self-employment                   Rs. 50.66 lakhs was provided to the 45 nos. ST students as Education Loan.

• Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project

       A multi sectoral project namely Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Sustainable Service Delivery Project of worth Rs.1400.00 Cr. has been approved by the World Bank. The main focus of the project is development of livelihood opportunities, quality education and roads for development of supply chain in the tribal dominated blocks of Tripura. The loan Agreement and Project Agreement become effective w.e.f. 20^th March, 2024. The main focus of the Project is to improve the quality of life and improvement of Education, Road in the 23 nos. Tribal dominated Blocks of Tripura including 12 nos. Aspirational blocks. Under the Project, 75,000 households will be benefitted in livelihood intervention.

       31 nos. Secondary Schools in 12 Aspirational blocks will be directly benefitted from infrastructure development by construction of additional classrooms and other facilities like labs library, drinking water and toilets under TRESP. Students from 108 nos. Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools in 12 nos. Aspirational tribal blocks will be directly benefitted from the setting up of vocational education laboratories, provision of school-based vocational education and providing in-person career counselling support.121 nos. rural roads (416.47 KM) will be constructed under TRESP.

    In compliance with World Bank standards, eight (eight) Technical Support Agencies have been hired through tenders for this project, with the help of the pertinent line departments, who have already started a range of works. One of these activities is to construct 416 Km roads and 16 schools building in the tribal territory.

              Work order has already been issued for construction of 94.752 km of road. Out of which, 25 km have already been constructed. DPR has been prepared for 125.03 km of roads under this project, while DPR for additional 196.80 km of roads are being prepared. Construction companies have been engaged for the construction of four school buildings in different districts. In total 603 nos. of producer group formed and 41 nos. Cluster Level Federation formed at different districts and blocks of Tripura.