New Rural Livelihood scheme for Northeast to benefit tribals: DoNER Minister

The new Rural Livelihood scheme for the Northeast will primarily benefit the tribals and the lower socio economic groups including women in the region, said DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday.

"To begin with, four states, - Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, will be taken up for helping the tribal and even the non-tribal lower groups living in remote areas. The project is aimed at assisting over 10,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) and benefit about three lakh poor households," he said here.

The "North East Rural Livelihood Project" is being supported by the World Bank.

Singh said that the North-Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) Ltd, a PSU under his ministry, is also assisting the farmers and agriculturists to obtain remunerative price for their produce.

"Special focus is on women, particularly tribal women, woman-headed households and single woman households. The more vulnerable tribal groups like Reang in Tripura and Lepsha and Bhutias in Sikkim are also going to benefit from it," he said.

--IANS

rup/him/vd