Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram launched the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY), aimed at improving the infrastructure and human development indices of the tribal population.
The scheme is being piloted in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Under the scheme centre will provide Rs. 10 crore for each block for the development of various facilities for the Tribals. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate.
The Minister informed the meeting that his Ministry has taken up initiatives for strengthening of existing institutions meant for delivery of goods and services to tribal people i.e Integrated Tribal Development Agencies /Integrated Development Project and creation of new ones wherever necessary.