The Tribal Affairs Division of Social Welfare Department erstwhile Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department is entrusted with the task of welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the State. The aim of the division is to bring about an all-round socio- economic development of the Scheduled Tribe families in general and those below the poverty line in particular. The department formulates and implements schemes and programmed to uplift the vulnerable sections of the society.
Specific program for the Welfare of Scheduled Tribes under the Tribal Sub-Scheme have been implemented since 1979-80 with a view to ensuring that these segments of the community are provided full benefits from the developmental effort especially in the areas of education both academic and vocational and other programmes tailored to provide supplementary income. The Tribal Sub-Scheme ensures rapid socio-economic development of tribal people and channelizes the flow of outlays from the general sectors in the plan of State for development of ST by filling gaps in various projects /infrastructure development schemes viz. Roads, Power Generation, Water supply, Health facilities, Educational facilities and Veterinary services, livelihood schemes etc.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing the scheme Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP), initiated in 1977-78. After amalgamation of Plan and Non- Plan, the scheme was known as 'Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS' since 2017. Earlier the coverage of the scheme was limited to 23 States (including J&K), while the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland were not covered. During the year 2017-18, it was decided by the Ministry to extend the benefit of the scheme to these States as well in the larger interest of the STs. The scheme of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) has been providing funds to the State Governments having notified ST's for development and welfare of tribal people to bridge the gaps in sectors like education, health, agriculture, skill development, employment-cum-income generation, etc. In order to improve basic services and facilities in villages with significant tribal population, it has been decided to transform the scheme, so that integrated village development programmes can be implemented in an outcome-oriented and time- bound manner. Accordingly, the existing scheme 'SCA to TSS' has been revamped as 'Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)' to be implemented during the years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
VISION:
The scheme Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yoina (PMAAGY)' has the vision to transform the villages with significant tribal population into model villages (adarsh gram), having saturated basic services and adequate infrastructure, through convergence of government schemes, so as to enable the villagers to develop their potential for a meaningful contribution to the economy and society.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objective of this scheme is to achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through convergence approach. It will include the following components.
Preparing Village Development Plans, based on the needs, potential, and aspirations;
Maximizing the coverage of individual / family benefit schemes of the Central / State Governments.
Improving the infrastructure in vital sectors like health, education, connectivity and livelihood;
Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India provides such sums as Parliament may by law provide shall be charged on the consolidated Fund of India in each year as grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be in need of assistance, and different sums may be fixed for different States. The scheme is for development work as may be undertaken by the State with the approval of the Government of India for the purpose of promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in that State or raising the level of administration of the Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State.
Following are the objectives for programmes / activities funded with Grants-in-aid under Proviso to Article 275(1) of Indian Constitution to bridge gap between Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others by accelerating development of STs by ensuring:
Human resource development by enhancing their access to education and health services,
Enhanced quality of life by raising the level of administration of the Scheduled Areas and also providing basic amenities in tribal areas / localities.
Substantial reduction in poverty and unemployment through skill upgradation and other income generating opportunities, creation of backward and forward linkages and linkage with institutional finance for sustained income generation and creation of productive assets,
Enhanced capacity to avail opportunities, gain rights &entitlements and improved facilities at par with other areas.
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) are set up in the States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India and are being run under the funding and sponsorship of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The prime objective of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) to cater relevant and quality education to the rural-tribal children ensuring all-round development for building their future bright and secure.
The details of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in the State of Sikkim are as follows:-
| Sl.No | District | Name of EMRS | Year of sanction | Year of functioning |
| 1 | Mangan | Swayem | 1997-998 | 2007 |
| 2 | Soreng | Gangyap | 2005-06 | 2007 |
| 3 | Namchi | Suntoay, Melli | 2015-16 | 2016 |
| 4 | Pakyong | Thekabung, Parakha | 2016-17 | 2017 |
Scholarships are provided to economically weak students belonging to Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Minority and Other Backward Class (OBC Central & State List) communities with an aim to encourage them to pursue their studies both at the pre-matric and post matric levels.
The basic objective of providing scholarship is to encourage parents belonging to the following communities to send their children to school, lighten their financial burden on school education and sustain their efforts to support their children to complete school education.
POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP TO SCHEDULED TRIBE:
The Government of India has been implementing the scheme of Post-Matric scholarship to students belonging to Scheduled Tribe. It aims to provide financial assistance to students belonging to Scheduled Tribe for pursuing post matriculation courses through recognized institutions. This scheme is funded in the ratio 90:10 by the Central and the State.
| Year | Physical Achievement | Financial Achievement (in lakhs) |
| 2017-2022 | 19,416 | 4,734.23 |
PRE MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP TO SCHEDULED TRIBE:
The Government of India has introduced the Scheme of Pre Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students studying in Classes IX & Xw.e.f. 01. 07 2012. The objective of the scheme is to support the parents of ST students for education of their wards studying in classes IX and X so that the incidence of dropout especially in transition from the elementary to secondary and during secondary stage of education is minimized.
| Year | Physical Achievement | Financial Achievement (in lakhs) |
| 2017-2022 | 1,188 | 37.7 |