(ii) ITDA Project Area (Rural):
ST: 163142
SC: 17536
General: 62510
Total: 243188

Main tribes:

    The various tribes inhabiting the area are Bhuyan, Munda, Kisan, Oraon, Ganda, Mundari, Kolha, Kharia, Bhumij, Ho etc. The Bhuyans (Both pori or hill bhuyans and plain Bhuyans) are said to be the original inhabitants of the area while Kolha, Kisan, Munda, Oraon etc. are the migrants. Among the Bhuyan tribe, Pouri or hill Bhuyans form the majority.

Labour Force:

    The working age group in the project area constitutes about 47 % of the total population of the Sub-division.

5. Allocation of business:

    The ITDA is usually implementing two schemes namely (1) Income Generating Schemes, (2) Infrastructure Development Scheme, for socio-economic and all round development of the tribals of this ITDA area as per Annual action plan of the year.

a) Income Generating Schemes: This scheme is designed as sectoral programmes to create or generate income of the tribals. The basic schemes are:
(a) Bankable I.G.Schemes
(b) Non Bankable I.G. Schemes

    Under Bankable I.G. schemes as per the IRD pattern read with SGSY style and with the approved unit cost, schemes were contemplated by the NABARD guidelines. Most of the schemes are Bullock finance, Vegetable cultivation, Diesel pump sets, Dug wells, Dairy unit, Poultry unit, Net and Boat and ISB (Industry service and Business) schemes. In this scheme, subsidy and loan is fifty percent each- financed by Financial Institution. In short, individual families were assisted. However, this scheme is now not operational as Group Finance as per SGSY guideline has taken its place.

    Similarly under Non-bankable schemes, Agriculture and Horticulture, Soil Conservation, Pisciculture, Minor Irrigation, Training and Animal husbandry are implemented. The schemes are fully subsidized with maximum of Rs.10,000/- per family.

b) Infrastructure Development Scheme: Under this item, all developmental works such as construction of School and Hostel building, repair of educational institutions, CD work, Drinking water wells, and electrification of tribal bastis etc. which are incidental to IG schemes are taken up.

6. Duties to be performed to achieve the mission:

a) Agriculture:

    Agriculture is the primary means of livelihood of the tribal people of this area. 78% of the total workers depend solely on agriculture. They consider it more stable, independent and regular than the allied activities. In view of uneconomic holdings and undulating nature of terrains, productivity is very low. It is a mode of living than an income-earning proposition. The agricultural income of the tribal is not that secure due to the fact that their techniques are elementary. Agriculture is exposed to the vagaries of nature and the modern method of protecting crops against nature's caprices and destruction by insects, pests and wild animals are not known to them. Due to geographical condition and traditional method of cultivation, the average yield is low. Second crop is unthinkable without assured irrigation facility. In the tribal villages, the house-holds live spread apart in hamlets rendering contacts by extension workers difficult.