Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 28 October 2014 launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for welfare of Tribal people and particularly to lift human development indices of tribal people. The scheme was launched during the meeting of the Tribal Welfare Ministers of States/UTs.

The scheme was launched on pilot basis in one block each of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Highlights of the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY)
•    Under the scheme, Union Government will provide 10 crore rupees for each block for the development of various facilities for the Tribal people. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate.
•    The scheme mainly focuses on bridging infrastructural gaps and gap in human development indices between Schedule tribes and other social groups.
•    VKY also envisages to focus on convergence of different schemes of development of Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments with outcome oriented approach.
•    Initially the blocks having at least 33 percent of tribal population in comparison to total population of the block will be targeted under the scheme.

Moreover, the Ministry has taken up initiatives for strengthening of existing institutions meant for delivery of goods and services to tribal people including Integrated Tribal Development Agencies, Integrated Development Project and creation of new ones wherever necessary.

The specific funds allocated to the State Governments for this purpose will be utilized judiciously with a view to build the institutional mechanism more robust by way of strengthening these institutions.  

Other decisions taken during the Meeting
•    The ministry approved the recognition of the Vishva Bharati, Shanti Niketan as the other centre of excellence in the field of Tribal language and literature.
•    Another proposal to establish a National Research Centre in the Tribal Research Institute, Bhubaneswar to promote research activities on issues for socio-economic development and culture of States was also approved by his Ministry.
•    In order to facilitate infrastructure for provision of quality education to the tribal, the Ministry sanctioned about 184 Eklavya Modal Residential Schools. These schools are intended to be equipped with requisite infrastructure and conducive environment for ensuring delivery of quality education among the tribal.
•    The Ministry has implemented a scheme to ensure that forest dwellers are not deprived of their due. Under the scheme maximum selling price for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) will be implemented in schedule V States initially.
•    A web based portal was also developed which indicate current price of MFPs on real time basis across different vegetable markets of the States.
•    12 MFP products were included in the programme namely Tendu Leave, Bamboo, Mahuwa Seeds, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac, Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan, Tamarind, Gums (Gum Karaya) and Karanji.