Evaluation Study of Various Income Generating Activities Undertaken By The ST & SC Development Department During Last Five Years (2008-2013) And Its Outcome And Appropriateness

Abstract

The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha, commissioned evaluation of "Income Generating Activities" to assess the progress of the schemes in meeting its objectives in tribal dominated areas of the State, covering TSP and non-TSP areas. The evaluation was conducted in a participatory manner involving different stakeholders at different levels during the assessment. To understand the performance of IGA, both scheduled and non-scheduled districts were selected covering ITDA, Micro Projects, MADA Pockets and Cluster Approach Pockets. Different tools were used for collection of required data and analysed objectively. Required secondary information were also gathered from possible sources. The evaluation team interacted with different stakeholders to understand the benefits of income generating activities and operational bottlenecks. From the Tenth Five Year Plan period, the objective and scope of SCA to TSP, was expanded to cover employment-cum-income generating activities and infrastructure incidental thereto. Besides family-based activities, other activities run by the Self Help Groups (SHGs)/Community are also to be taken up. The ultimate objective of extending SCA to TSP is to boost the demand based income-generating programmes and thus raise the economic and social status of tribals. Income Generating Schemes (IGS) are now being implemented in all TSP and Non-TSP blocks through the Tribal Development Administrative Units. The fund allocations for IGA in TSP areas show positive growth over last five years. Looking at tribal development administrative unit wise allocation, ITDA and Micro Project areas are having positive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) whereas MADA Pockets and Cluster Approach Pockets are having negative CAGR. The evaluation covered a total of 105 SHGs across different ITDAs, Micro Projects, MADA Pockets and Cluster Approach Pockets of Odisha. Out of total, 82 per cent groups have functional IGAs, 12 per cent are defunct and 6 per cent groups have not yet started (Not Operating IGA) their livelihood activities. About 78.10 per cent groups are engaged in seasonal business while remaining 21.90 per cent operate their business throughout the year. Under the scheme, funds for income generating activities were provided to groups which were formed earlier by different agencies, including Tribal Development Administrative Units. The average age of each group supported for IGA is more than 5 years old with average member size of 12 per group. Though, in terms of age, groups are quite old, but functionally more than 30 percent groups are yet to attend maturity. Some of the sampled groups failed to continue IGA operation and in certain groups, records are either not available or not found updated. Of the total members, 90.23 per cent belong to BPL category. Actual age of association of members normally varies between a minimum of 2 years to a maximum of 15 years.