Integrated Tribal Development Projects
Why in News?
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Conclave on Strengthening of Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) and Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) on June 3, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
About
- Organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the conclave aimed to chart a governance reform roadmap towards a "Viksit Bharat," focusing on institutional restructuring, better fund flow, and technology-driven field-level delivery.
- It marks the conclusion of the massive Janjatiya Garima Utsav (held from May 18 to June 25, 2026), which engaged over 90 lakh tribal beneficiaries across India.
Origin and Concept
- Historical Context: Launched during the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974) under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) approach.
- Target Areas: Delineated in administrative blocks or blocks with a high concentration of Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations.
- Primary Mission: Designed as grassroots delivery systems to bridge the socio-economic gaps between tribal communities and the rest of society.
Primary Objectives
- Poverty Reduction: Creating sustainable livelihood and income-generating opportunities.
- Educational Upliftment: Maximizing literacy by building schools and establishing better education infrastructure.
- Exploitation Control: Eradicating historical injustices, land alienation, and economic exploitation by middlemen.
- Infrastructure Bridging: Improving basic physical connectivity, including roads, electricity, and minor irrigation.
- Cultural Preservation: Safeguarding unique indigenous art, language, music, and local traditions.
Administrative and Funding Framework
- Local Delivery System: Managed by Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) or district welfare cells to fast-track public services.
- The TSP Strategy: Directs a dedicated, proportionate share of state and central budgets explicitly for tribal growth.
- Non-Divertible Funds: Safeguards the budget allocated under these plans, ensuring it does not lapse or get transferred to other departments.
- NABARD Partnership: Operates parallel flagship livelihood projects under a distinct NABARD Integrated Tribal Development Programme, using a dedicated Tribal Development Fund.
- Wadi Model: Leverages NABARD’s family-centric "Wadi" (small orchard) agriculture model to promote sustainable farming, fruit orchards, and medicinal plants.
Recent Developments & Achievements
- The Jan Bhagidari Campaign: Over 57,000 field-level outreach camps were set up to take governance directly to remote tribal doorsteps.
- Service Delivery Milestones: Facilitated 2.27 lakh Aadhaar updates, 1.76 lakh Ayushman Bharat health card registrations, and nearly 1.19 lakh Sickle Cell Disease screenings.
- Massive Budgetary Expansion: The overall central budget allocation for ST development rose significantly to ₹14,925.81 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26.
- Schematic Convergence: Overlaps with mega-missions like the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) and PM-JANMAN to construct Anganwadis, provide clean drinking water, and roll out mobile medical units.
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