Understanding the Adivasi Community
Adivasis, also known as Scheduled Tribe, have faced centuries of social exclusion and discrimination. Through legal empowerment, access to education, livelihood, and social justice, we strive to build an inclusive and equitable society.
Our Vision
To create a just and equitable society where Adivasis are free from discrimination, have access to equal opportunities, and are empowered to lead lives of dignity, self-respect, and participation.
Our Mission
- Promote awareness of constitutional rights and protection under the law.
- Strengthen access to education, livelihoods, and digital empowerment for Adivasi communities.
- Provide legal assistance in cases of caste-based atrocities and discrimination.
- Facilitate linkages to central and state schemes meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribe.
- Advocate for representation and participation in governance and development.
- Build a network of allies, lawyers, professionals like CA , CS, Engineers, Doctors, Entrepreneurs, social workers, and Adivasi leaders to support justice and inclusion.
Our Focus Areas
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Legal Empowerment
Awareness on SC/ST Atrocities Act, access to legal aid, and support for victims of caste-based violence.
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Education & Scholarships
Support for school and higher education, coaching for competitive exams, and awareness on government scholarships.
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Livelihood & Skilling
Skill-building programs, entrepreneurship development, and placement assistance for ST youth.
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Digital & Social Inclusion
Bridging digital divide through tech access, digital literacy and enabling civic participation via platforms.
Important Laws & Government Schemes
Important Acts for Scheduled Tribes
| Name of the Act / Order / Policy | Purpose / Key Features (for Scheduled Tribes) |
| The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 | Specifies which tribes / tribal communities (or parts thereof) are to be regarded as Scheduled Tribes in each State / Union Territory, for the purposes of the Constitution. |
| The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 | Criminalises 'atrocities' (severe discriminatory acts) committed against STs (and SCs), establishes special courts, and provides for relief, rehabilitation, and rights of victims and witnesses. |
| The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act) | Recognises and vests individual or community rights over forest land to STs and other traditional forest dwellers, and provides a process for claim and record of those rights. |
| Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) | Extends the provisions of the Panchayati Raj system (local self-governance) to Scheduled Areas (areas with predominant tribal populations), with special powers and protections for Gram Sabhas in ST areas. |
| Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 | Contains special protections for STs in Scheduled Areas (e.g. Sections 41 & 42) requiring Gram Sabha / local consent before acquisition of land in such areas. |
Important Schemes for Scheduled Tribes
Educational Schemes
| Scheme Name | Website / Reference URL | Notes / Remarks |
| Educational Loans provided by NSTFDC (for ST students) | https://nstfdc.tribal.gov.in/ | NSTFDC’s 'Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY)' is an education loan scheme for ST students. |
| Pre‑Matric Scholarships Scheme for STs | https://scholarships.gov.in | Central scheme implemented through state portals. |
| Post‑Matric Scholarship for ST students | https://scholarships.gov.in | — |
| Upgradation of Merit of ST Students | — | — |
| Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for ST Students | https://scholarships.gov.in | — |
| National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for ST Candidates | https://tribal.nic.in | — |
| National Fellowship for Scheduled Tribe Students | https://tribal.nic.in | — |
Schemes for Economic Development
| S. No. | Scheme Name | Website / Reference URL | Notes / Remarks |
| 1 | Entrepreneurial / Credit / Finance Schemes of NSTFDC | https://nstfdc.tribal.gov.in/ | NSTFDC provides term loan, margin money, etc. |
| 2 | Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY) | Empowering tribal women with easy loans | |
| 3 | NSTFDC Schemes | https://nstfdc.tribal.gov.in/ | The apex ST finance/org. body for ST economic upliftment. |
| A | NSTFDC - Skill & Entrepreneurship Development | Link
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| B | NSTFDC- TERM Loan | Link | Term loans are available to tribal beneficiaries for setting up their viable Income Generating Ventures in any of the sectors viz. Industrial, Agricultural and Service Sector. |
| C | NSTFDC- Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY) | Link | This is an exclusive concessional scheme for the economic development of eligible Scheduled Tribe Women. |
| D | NSTFDC- Adivasi Shikha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY) | Link | This is an Education loan scheme, under this financial assistance is extended to eligible STs for pursuing professional and technical courses including Ph.D in India. |
| E | NSTFDC- Micro-credit schemes (MCS) | Link | This scheme is meant to provide small loans to the eligible Scheduled Tribes members of SHGs for undertaking Income Generation Activities. |
| F | Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme | Link | The objective of the Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme is to generate awareness, provide training to beneficiaries, give NSTFDC’s concessional financial assistance, assist in market linkage, etc. to the Scheduled Tribes Forest Dwellers for facilitating productive utilisation of land. |
| G | Marketing Support Assistance | Link | Assistance to the beneficiaries through the SCAs : Interest rates on Marketing Support financial assistance is at par with rates of interest for term loan. |
| H | Lending to NGOs/EVAs | Link | NGOs/EVAs meeting the norms of NSTFDC are eligible to avail funds. Under the scheme, NGOs/EVAs may assist only Scheduled Tribe Self Help Groups (SHGs). These NGOs/EVAs can use the funds to enhance the livelihood of the Scheduled Tribes by various methods and thus help them to bring them to the main stream. |
| 4 | Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) | https://trifed.tribal.gov.in | To promote tribal products and sustainable livelihoods. |
| 5 | NAMASTE / sanitation / environment schemes with ST focus | LINK | The scheme aims to provide occupational training, health insurance (under AB-PMJAY), and assistance for safety devices and sanitation equipment to improve the safety and economic conditions of these workers |
| 6 | PM‑DAKSH (Nomadic and Semi nomadic Tribes) | https://pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in/ | The Yojana: Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme was launched during 2020-21. The focus of the programme would be on providing high quality skills through good quality institutions so that the training can result in finding jobs or self- employment ventures for the target group. |
| 7 | Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) | Scheme Guideline | A comprehensive village infrastructure program for tribal communities, launched in October 2024. This initiative, building on earlier efforts like the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY), focuses on providing basic infrastructure and services in tribal villages through convergence of various government schemes |
Schemes for Social Empowerment
| S. No. | Scheme Name | Website / Reference URL | Notes / Remarks |
| 1 | Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) | https://adiprasaran.tribal.gov.in/pm-janman01/Man.aspx
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Targeting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to ensure access to essential services like Aadhaar, health cards, banking. |
| 2 | ST social empowerment schemes by Tribal Affairs / NSTFDC | https://nstfdc.tribal.gov.in/ | Some NSTFDC schemes include empowerment & capacity building. |
| 3 | Protection Under Prevention of Atrocities Act | https://nhapoa.gov.in | Covers both SC & ST under the PoCR / PoA Acts. |
| 4 | Support for Marginalized Individuals / Livelihood (SMILE) for STs | https://smile-b.dosje.gov.in | SMILE is an umbrella scheme; could include ST beneficiaries. |
| 5 | PM Young Achievers / Scholarship / Awards (for ST / others) | https://yet.nta.ac.in | May allow ST students to participate. |
| 6 | Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM‑AJAY) including ST | https://pmajay.dosje.gov.in | Aimed at SC/ST / underprivileged upliftment. |
Important Government Institutions for Scheduled Castes
| Institution Name | Website / Link |
| Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) | https://tribal.gov.in |
| National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) | https://ncst.nic.in |
| National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) | https://nstfdc.tribal.gov.in |
| TRIFED | https://trifed.tribal.gov.in |