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Home/Anthropology/Mains PYQ/2017/Paper II/Tribal Development, Policy & Safeguards
UPSC MainsAnthropology Optional Paper II 2017 15 Marks Model Answer Available

Tribal Sub-Plan: Emergence, Features and Limitations — 2017 Paper II

Question · 2017 · Paper II · 15 Marks

Discuss the emergence, salient features and limitations of Tribal sub-plan.

Model Answer

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Approach

  • Demand of Question:Cover three explicit parts - emergence, design/features and limitations - and update terminology to STC/DAPST without confusing the historical TSP with a single scheme.
  • Structuring the Response:Fifth Plan origins -> area/population targeting and fund earmarking -> institutional mechanisms -> implementation failures -> contemporary STC/DAPST transition.
  • Key Dimensions to Cover:Fifth Five-Year Plan 1974-75; L.P. Vidyarthi/task-force context; ITDP/ITDA, MADA and clusters; proportionate flow of sectoral funds; non-divertibility/additionality ideals; fragmentation, notional expenditure, weak participation/outcomes; DAPST/STC monitoring.

Model Answer

Introduction The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) strategy was a watershed policy shift introduced during the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-75), heavily influenced by the task force led by anthropologist L.P. Vidyarthi. It emerged from the realization that general community development programs had failed to bridge the development gap, necessitating a dedicated, area-specific strategy for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Body

Salient Features:

  • Proportionate Earmarking: The core philosophy was that all central and state government ministries must earmark plan outlays for ST development at least in proportion to the ST population in the state/country (e.g., 8.6% nationally).
  • Area-Population Focus: It adopted a specialized administrative architecture based on population density. Contiguous tribal majority blocks were grouped into Integrated Tribal Development Projects/Agencies (ITDP/ITDA). Smaller pockets were covered under MADA (Modified Area Development Approach) and clusters.
  • Sectoral Convergence: It aimed to integrate funds from agriculture, education, health, and rural development, converging them territorially to prevent exploitation and build infrastructure.

Limitations & Failures:

  • Notional Accounting: Departments frequently engaged in "book transfers," classifying general infrastructure (like a state highway passing through a tribal district) as TSP expenditure without any direct benefit to tribal households.
  • Diversion and Lapses: Earmarked funds were routinely diverted to non-tribal schemes or allowed to lapse at the end of the financial year.
  • Lack of Cultural Sensitivity: Uniform sectoral schemes were imposed without considering the unique cultural ecology or dispersed settlement patterns of different tribes.
  • Top-Down Approach: The planning bypassed local Gram Sabhas, rendering the strategy bureaucratic rather than participatory.

Conclusion To address these limitations, the TSP has recently evolved into the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) / Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST). Tracked by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs via a centralized online portal, it enforces non-divertibility. However, true success requires moving beyond financial earmarking to outcome-based planning that begins with community consent and respects localized habitat rights.

 

2026 Write an account on the contribution of Verrier Elwin in developing policies for the tribal populations in post-independent India. 2026 Article 371A of the Indian Constitution. 2026 Discuss the impact of democratic institutions on the tribal populations of India. 2026 Write an account on Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).

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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2017 — Paper II

28 questions

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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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