Evaluation of Grain Bank Scheme in Tribal Areas of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Grain Bank scheme is evolved with a prime aim of mobilizing and organizing the Productive ability of the tribals by extending part of their own production which is contributed to the village grain bank pool for collective use after harvest. It is not simply a process of raising individual income of the contributors but to help the poorer and needy villagers to position themselves securely during lean season and free from exorbitant traits of interest charged by traders money lenders etc., The community managed grain banks have been established in the Tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh during 1990 under externally aided Andhra Pradesh Tribal Development Project and Andhra Pradesh Participatory Tribal Development Project (APPTDP) funded by IFAD. Besides Government of India have also formulated the scheme of Grain Bank in the year 1996-97. The objectives of the project are (1) to combat the problem of food grains scarcity during the learn season (b) to promote the habit of self-help among the tribals (c ) The Andhra Pradesh Tribal Development Project (APTDP) commenced its implementation from the year 1991 for a period of 7 years and completed in the year 1998 . This project covered the tribal areas of northern coastal districts. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram , Visakhapatnam, and East Godavari were selected for the study ensuring the coverage of Government of India (d) The study team divided itself into two sub-teams and carried out the study simultaneously in two selected ITDA areas.