Scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organisations Working for the Welfare of Scheduled Tribes

DETAILS The Central Sector Scheme “Scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organisations Working for the Welfare of Scheduled Tribes” was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The prime objective of the scheme is to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of the Government and fill the gaps in service-deficient tribal areas, in sectors such as education, health, drinking water, agro-horticultural productivity, social security, etc. through the efforts of voluntary organizations, and to provide an environment for socioeconomic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Any other innovative activity having a direct impact on the socio-economic development or livelihood generation of STs may also be considered through voluntary efforts. BENEFITS 1. Broad Sector-wise indicative categories of projects for which grant-in-aid will be considered are as follows: Sectors Category of Projects Education 1. Running and maintenance of Non-Residential Schools/ Residential Schools /Hostels. Education 2. Sponsoring tribal girls from the North Eastern States viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and from Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep for study in reputed educational institutions. Health 3. Running/maintenance of hospitals/dispensaries with 10 or more beds. Health 4. Mobile Dispensary Livelihood 5. Enhancement of livelihood and income generation opportunities through infrastructure support and capacity building in sectors like agriculture, fishery, dairy and animal husbandry, water conservation, and organic/natural farming. 2. In addition to the above, during natural calamities, disasters, or pandemic, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs may provide emergency health services including the provision of food and water through NGOs in the affected area for which norms may be decided in consultation with IFD with approval of Minister, Ministry Tribal Affairs. 3. Priority will be given to programmes/projects that benefit Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), LWE-affected districts, and tribal populations in remote or difficult areas. 4. Under the scheme, grants are given to Organizations as per norms fixed for different projects given in Annexure-1, subject to the ceilings for recurring and non-recurring grants. ELIGIBILITY The applicant organization should be a registered voluntary organization (VO) /non-governmental organization (NGO) engaged in the conduct and promotion of social welfare of STs. The applicant organization (NGO) should be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860/State Society Registration/Public Trust or Institutions either under a statute or as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or any other act. The applicant organization must register with the NGO-Darpan portal of NITI Aayog (www.ngodarpan.gov.in). The organization should have experience of at least three years in running activities similar in the size and objectives of the project, for which the grants are sought. The organization making an application for seeking grants would itself implement the projects without passing the grants to any different entity for managing the project. The organization will agree to comply with the terms and conditions and sign a MoU with the Ministry as in Annexure 2. The organization will open an Aadhaar-linked bank account in its name under the joint operation of the President and Secretary or their authorized signatories, in an authorized scheduled bank in respect of the grant in line with the instructions issued by the Government of India from time to time. The organization should have PAN and TAN Numbers in its name and should have filed Income Tax Returns (ITR) for at least the last three years. The organization needs to be registered under section 12A of the Income Tax Act. The organization should not be facing bankruptcy nor facing inquiries or investigations for economic offences by CBI/ED/CBIC or any other Union/State Government agencies. The organization should have the sound financial capacity to partially co-finance the project, as grants from the Ministry would be restricted to supporting the core activities only that have been defined in Anexure-1. The organization shall submit details of its trustees, promoters, beneficial owners, and Management Committee along with PAN and Aadhaar number in the format given before the grant is considered. The organization should not have been blacklisted by NITI Aayog/Union/State Ministries or Government organisations. A minimum of at least 75 beneficiaries shall be the requirement for the commencement of the project. However, in exceptional cases, with due justification by the Tribal Welfare Department of the State Government, a project with a minimum of 25 ST students may be considered by the Ministry with the approval of Minister, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, for commencement of an educational project.