Ranchi-based Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) will conduct a study on performance evaluation of the Tribal Sub Plan in Jharkhand.

Significantly, Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) is a comprehensive sub-plan of the central government for socio-economic development of tribes in the states with the fifth scheduled areas. Jharkhand is a tribal-dominated state with approximately 45 per cent of its geographical area under the fifth schedule and around 27 per cent of the ST population.

XISS on Wednesday inked a year-long agreement with Dr Ramdayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute (popularly known as TRI), Ranchi, for conducting the study named, “Performance Evaluation of Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) in Jharkhand: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The research study will involve in-depth budgetary analysis of TSP, distribution of TSP funds among all districts, utilisation pattern of TSP-funded schemes, holistic administrative mechanism of TSP-funded schemes (from state to village level), role and implications of nodal agency, district-level administration and panchayati raj in overall administration of TSP, and comparison of TSP administration with other good performing states.

The study will also suggest ways to use the grants by the Government of India to the welfare department in Jharkhand for developing social infrastructure related to health, education, livelihood, tourism etc.

XISS director Joseph Marianus Kujur while signing the MoU said: “XISS is elated on this collaboration with TRI to focus on the approach of district administration and panchayati raj in the growth of the society and its people. Through this collaboration, we can help the administration to attend to the needs of the society and contribute in its development in fields like health, education, livelihood, and tourism.”

During the one-year duration, the research will be carried out by mediums of research methodology, tools for data collection, and report writing. Field visits will also be conducted for the collection of primary data for the preparation of the reports.

Significantly, after Independence, the Constitution of India has made a number of special provisions for the safeguard of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Viewing their abysmally low socio-economic status, the consecutive Governments of India have also adopted a number of special strategies for the speedy improvement in their status. Among them, the TSP is the most ambitious one.