The Department has four main areas of operation and the schemes are devised and implemented according to the strategy.
They are as follows:
- Education
- Income Generation
- Infrastructural developments
- Heritage and Other allied activities
EDUCATION
"Education For All" has been a Central Government goal, which can be achieved only when tackled at the state level. The state of Jharkhand has 39.27 % literacy. Unless the situation is drastically and urgently remedied, it would be difficult to merge these sections into the mainstreams. The problem in the education front is two pronged. On one hand access to education is limited and on the other cost of education is daunting, for these sections. Keeping this in mind the Welfare Department has proposed the following schemes: 1. Seminars and Tech Camps, 2. Scheduled Tribe Stipend, 3. Hostel for Tribal Students, 4. Mid-day Meal Schemes, 5. Construction of 100 bedded Hostel for college girls in 18 district Head Quarters, 6. Scholarships to technical institutions both within and outside the state, 7. Book banks, Coaching Centers, Vocational Training Schemes, 8. Proposed Polytechnic Institute at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, 9. Technical Education.
INCOME GENERATION
The Department of Welfare has identified several areas to be benefitted under its financing schemes.Funds received under the Tribal Sub Plan,by way of Special Central Assistance,will be utilised to finance schemes through MESO to assist the members of Scheduled Tribes in raising their incomes and improving the quality of life.
The TCDC (Tribal Co-operative Development Corporation) shall provide loans and assistance to Tribal Co-operative to enable the exploitation of minor forest products and minerals.
INFRASTRUCTURE
To plug the Infrastructural gaps in the state,the Department of Welfare has proposed several steps specially in the areas of Health, Housing, Drinking Water etc.
These are enumerated briefly below:
Health Sector Initiatives:
There are 35 Ayurvedic Centres in the state operated by the Department of Welfare The proposal is to upgrade these centres and to encourage the identification of tribal herbs and medicines for their proper documentation. The Welfare Department aims at providing medical aid to benefeciaries for timely treatment.
Housing Sector Initiatives:
It has been felt that the existing Rural Development Housing Schemes have not fully appreciated or addressed the special needs of the tribal communities who have traditionally lived in inaccessible mountain tracts.This scheme will supplement other Projects that wish to target these primitive tribes for development activities. Drinking water,Residential Schools,Hostels etc are proposed to tackle the infrastructure problems.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Department of Welfare is taking several initiatives for tribal upliftment. Construction of Hostels, Kiosks for establishment of small trading business, Construction of boundary walls to prevent encroachment of graveyards,Haz committee to co-ordinate and facilitate the pilgrimage of devotees, are some of the programs,already functioning. The state has a rich Tribal culture which the administration is keen to preserve and promote.
The Jharkhand Tribal Research Institute is being upgraded and a tribal museum is proposed to be set up at the state capital Ranchi.
Ulihatu, the birth place of Bhagwan Birsa Munda is being developed as an Ashram school with modern amenities.It shall eventually be modelled into a place of pilgrimage as well as heritage centre.