Paper short abstract:

Main aim of this study is to highlight the impact of Government of India schemes on yhe quality of life of the tribal people.

Paper long abstract:

In the Himalyan region basically there are three different tribal groups i.e. Negroids, Mongoloids and the Aryans. During the British rule no major step was taken to improve their life. After independence, the first prime minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru adopted the policy of integration to bring them in national mainstream. This policy consists of two types of measures for tribal development i.e. Protective and Promotional measures. The first consists of land polices, forest policies and the policies to protect tribal culture and traditions, while the latter is the same as development and welfare programmes undertaken by the government (through plans) and other voluntary agencies to make the tribal life better. Presently, the schemes have been divided into two categories, (i) central sector programmes which are fully financed by the central government. (ii) the centrally sponsored programmes which are partly financed by the central government, and rest of the expenditure meted out by the concerned State government. Since, first five year plan (1951) the govt. has launched various schemes like Tribal Development Blocks (TDB), Small Farmers Development Agencies (SFDA), Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Development Agencies (MFAL) etc. to improve the life style of the people of the tribe. Due to all these efforts improvement in transport connectivity, electricity, telecommunication facilities, availability of food grains and good growth in tourism sector has been recorded in those areas. Further, study reveals that in social and economic sector, a lot of work needs to be done to improve the life of the tribes of Himalya region.