MSc

Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), a strategic policy initiative to secure overall development of the STs,
was first introduced in the Fifth Five Year Plan. The focus of TSP is on “securing budgetary
allocations for tribal development at least proportionate to their population, in order to bring
them at par with other sections of society and to protect them from exploitation.” Tribals
require specific attention not only with monetary allocation but also for their rapid socioeconomic
development. This requires integrated approach combining all departments in a
united manner and not interventions in isolation.
The Tribal Sub-Plan envisages reducing gaps between the tribals and non-tribals in
health, education, communication and other areas of basic amenities of life by providing legal
and administrative support. The Sub-Plan also intends to implement livelihood security
schemes to enhance the income of tribals by taking into account their aptitude and skill. In
Kerala, tribal sub-plan approach was adopted in 1976, to intensify the tribal development programme
of the state.
The present study focuses on the extent of livelihood options opened up by TSP projects to
tribal farmers and its socio-economic impact in their lives, the institutional changes in the
TSP administration, the pattern of outlay and utilization of TSP funds in the agricultural
sector and the social and institutional constraints in implementing TSP projects.
The study was conducted in Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad districts of Kerala. Two
panchayaths were selected randomly from each of these districts. From each panchayath, 10
tribals and 10 people’s representatives were selected by random sampling, making a total of
120 respondents. The livelihood security of the tribals before and after the implementation of
TSP projects was measured using the Livelihood Security Index (LSI). The index scores of
the tribals showed that livelihood security of tribals had improved significantly after
implementation of TSP projects. However, the three districts were found to have attained
almost same level of livelihood security. The status of tribal empowerment which was
measured using ‘empowerment index’, showed that the status of empowerment of tribals had
not increased significantly and had remained at low level for majority.
Analysis of the socio-economic impact of TSP shows significant improvement in the levels
of their income, production, savings, education and social participation. Distribution of funds
for TSP programs in agricultural sector shows that more funds were allotted to crop
cultivation and animal husbandry programmes.
Poor communication facilities and illiteracy of tribals were the major constraints experienced
by people’s representatives while implementing the TSP programmes. It was also observed
that participation of the tribals in developmental activities was very low. High degree of
concordance was found to exist among the people’s representatives with regard to the
importance ascribed to constraints in implementing TSP programmes .
The study highlights that participation of tribals has to be enhanced by government officials
while planning tribal development programmes and more efforts have to be taken up to
increase the tribal literacy levels. The non-cooperative attitude of tribals towards
developmental activities has to be deliberately changed. Emphasis on agriculture should be
shifted to varied avenues of income generation to improve their livelihood security.