PROSPECTIVE PLAN OF ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF NILAGIRI ITDA DURING 11TH PLAN PERIOD (2007-08 TO 2011-12) (With Funds Under SCA to TSP and First Proviso to Article 275 (1) of the Constitution) Sponsored by Ministry of Tribal Affairs Government of India SC & ST RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE, BHUBANESWAR ST & SC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ORISSA 2006-07 i Map of Nilagiri ITDA ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ❑ Introduction: Under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and ST & SC Development Department, Government of Orissa, SCs & STs Research and Training Institute had undertaken Collaborative Research and Development Works with 21 ITDAs of Orissa. It is an action research imbibing three broad facets, like (1) Review Profiles of ITDAs, (2) Concurrent Evaluation of Ongoing Development Programmes implemented by ITDAs and (3) Preparation of Action Plans (Five Year Prospective Plan) of ITDAs from 2007-2012, i.e. 11th Plan period. The present action plan report relates to Nilagiri ITDA of Balasore district of Orissa. The principal objectives of the study are I) to prepare review profile of the ITDA incorporating its structural – functional growth and development since inception, II) to delineate the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of ongoing IDS and IGS through concurrent evaluation, and III) to formulate and prepare Five Year Prospective Plan of Action (POA) for the ITDA, taking G.P. as the unit of development intervention. In consonance with the above requirements, the study design, tools of research, etc. were prepared for the study. Primary data for the study were collected from ITDA, Block, GP and Beneficiaries by research personnel as per schedules, interview guides and secondary data from concerned offices in the ITDA area, ST & SC Development Dept. and SCSTRTI Library. On the parameter of PESA Act, due emphasis was given to honour the views of the people in identification of their problems, felt needs and future plans of programmes through their representatives at Gram Panchayat level. ❑ ITDA Profile and Demographic Features: Nilagiri ITDA was launched on dt.01.12.1975 as ITDP. It covers 1 block, 25 GPs and 137 villages with 18,319 households and 110232 population, out of which 61356 (55.66%) are STs. The sex ratio of ST is 990 females per 1000 males. There is a rise of literacy of ST from 15.60 % in 1971 to 22.46 % in 1991, still they are educationally lagging far behind the total population and SCs. 37 % of its total population form the workforce and 77 % of it depend on agro-forestry based economy. The cultivators form 34.46 % of the work force and agricultural labourers comprise another 41.44%. The major STs such as Bhumija, Santal, Kol, Bathudi, Munda etc. and the PTG like Mankirdia, are found in the area. iii Total land area in Nilagiri ITDA is 24661 hectares out of which, 14761 hectares (59.85%) are arable lands, 956 hectares (3.88%) are forestland, 3032 hectares (12.29%) are cultivable wasteland while 1251 hectares (5.08%) are pasture and grazing land and 332 hectares (1.35%) are covered under tree crops and grooves. Agriculture is the mainstay of the area and people is supplemented by collection and sale of minor forest produce, hunting and food gathering. Rice is the principal crop. The popular cottage and household industries, which have been identified as hobbies and professions of the tribals are Bee Keeping, Lac Cultivation and Processing and Sericulture, Tussure reeling, Khali stiching, Stone carving and and Rope making. Money is the medium of exchange but barter system is vogue in the interior pockets. ❑ Existing Infrastructures and Development Status: The ITDA area is facilitated with 577 kms of different kinds of roads touching 142 villages and 326 hamlets. There are 24 branches and sub post offices in 25 GPs. There are 97 Primary Schools and 31 ME schools, which do not conform the population norm per primary school. It has 22 Primary School Hostels. Still 3 GPs are deprived of the facility. There are 32 high schools at 25 GPs. One Girls’ High School and two Kanyashrams in the ITDA area provide limited scope for promotion of girls’ education. One of the existing 6 Primary Health Centers and Mini Health Centres, serveing on an average 16,872 population, indicates the poor health infrastructures and inadequacy of the health care services for the people. All the villages have Anganwadi Center/ Sub Centre, serving 538 people instead of 150 by one Anganwadi Center. There are 911 tube wells, 326 of them are defunct. As many as 12 MIPs and river lift points operate in the TSP area which irrigate 5951 hectares (40.32%) lands. Of them, 4570 hectares (76.79%) are irrigated in kharif season and only 1381 hectares (23.21%) in Rabi season. There are 2 Veterinary Hospitals/Dispensaries, 7 Livestock Centers and 6 Artificial Insemination Centers to take care of cattle health and extension programmes. In Nilagiri ITDA area 2 LAMPS and 12 Cooperative Societies operate to strengthen the cooperative movement. There are 15nos of weekly hats. There are Tusser Rearing/Reeling Cooperative Society, Bee keeping Training Centre and Lac Processing, which play acatalectic role in up gradation of skills of the traditional tribal artisan. The Agency area has adequate forest wealth with Asan and Arjun trees, which helps growing tussore and lac cultivation. Besides, Mahula flower, Sal seed, Kendu, Jhuna, Gum, honey etc. are some of the important miner forest produce iv available abundantly in the forest. The forest area is also hospitable for Bee keeping. There are huge permanent posture and grazing area, which help thrive business on livestock. ❑ Planned Development Intervention: Over a period of last 5 years, Nilagiri ITDA had implemented different development programmes under three broad categories, such as Income Generating Schemes (IGS), Infrastructure Development Schemes (IDS) and Information, Education and Communication (IEC). IGS: Funds to the tune of Rs 134.90 lakh was spent under different income generating schemes primarily through group mode for development of STs including the Mankirdia PTGs. Highest expenditure (Rs. 54.68 lakh) is incurred on irrigation projects followed by Rs. 32.79 lakh on cottage industries and Rs. 13.39 lakh on agriculture activities. The cottage industries, especially bee keeping, lac cultivation and processing and tussur textiles feature were thrust IGS activities. There is capricious fluctuation in the annual expenditure pattern of the ITDA in half a decade. IDS: Nilagiri ITDA had utilized funds to the tune of about 180.85 lakh for 104 projects for creation and maintenance of infrastructures out of the funds under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution. It created community infrastructures and extended basic minimum facilities for promotion of education, health, communication and providing drinking water, electricity and irrigation facilities as well as administrative back up. Communication projects were prioritized with the largest numbers of 36 projects and the highest expenditure of Rs.81.60 lakh (56.00%) followed by 23 projects for creation of education infrastructure at a cost of Rs. 36.03 lakh (25%). During the year 2005-06 about 1/3rd of the total expenditure was spent for creation of 32 different projects relating to Irrigation, Communication, Education, Electrification, Water Supply and administrative back up. Similarly about 1/5th of the total expenditure was made for creation of 31 different projects in the year 2001-02. Allotment and expenditures: Funds to the tune of Rs.326.21 lakh was allotted to Nilgiri ITDA and Rs.365.83 lakh spent by it during past five years (2001-02 to 2011-12) under the head SCA to TSP. A total of 4,481 beneficiaries were benefited by different development schemes. On an average Rs.7,280/- was spent for development intervention per beneficiary. Likewise funds to the tune of Rs 180.85 lakh were allotted to Nilgiri ITDA (under Article 275) and there was nearly full utilization of the funds leaving a balance of Rs. 95/- only. v Development Status: According to overall measurement by State Planning and Coordination Development (1994) the development status of all 314 blocks were categorized into 4 development groups, such as (A) Developed, (B) Developing, (C) Backward and (D) Very Backward. Nilagiri Block/I.T.D.A. comes under the category – C bearing rank as 161. It is one of 87 backward blocks in the State. ❑ Concurrent Evaluation: As many as 15 case studies of 12 ongoing schemes, like goat rearing, poultry, duck rearing, diary, tent house, Plough Bullock, demonstration for sunflower cultivation, pisculture, lac cultivation (in large scale), khali stitching, grocery shop, WHS, dug well scheme with 100% subsidy, etc. were collected in course of undertaking concurrent evaluation in Nilagiri ITDA area. Out of 15 IGS cases, 6 cases, one each was sanctioned to SHG (for goat rearing, duck rearing, diary, poultry and tent house) and two for irrigation projects, and 8 for bankable schemes in individual mode. Schemes for SHGs have inherent strength and opportunity that lead to success. Under bankable schemes the beneficiaries have been generating additional incomes and repaying their bank loans. Lac cultivation project is a commendable step in Nilagiri ITDA, which is expected to widen its scope in future by introducing the same in other suitable areas. ❑ Prospective Plan of Action for Sustainable Development: The goal of the plan is to embrace the entire field of development; economic, educational, social and cultural so as to liberate the ST people of Nilagiri ITDA from the perennial scourages of unemployment, relative deprivation, ignorance and disease. The plan foresees promotion of the ITDA areas as a hub of activities related to honey, stone and lac arts, tussore textiles, etc. on the basis of the traditions of small and cottage industries.