SEED Scheme

On 16^th February, 2022, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED). DNTs refer to the De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes.

Need: DNTs are the most neglected, marginalized and economically and socially deprived communities.

• Most of them have been living a life of destitution for generations and still continue to do so with an uncertain and gloomy future.
• DNTs somehow escaped the attention of developmental framework and thus are deprived of the support unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Salient Features

Free Coaching: A component of free Coaching for DNT students has been envisioned for the educational empowerment of these communities.

• The objective of this component is to enable them to appear in competitive examinations/ admission to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA, etc. for obtaining an appropriate job in the Public/Private Sector.
• The selection of the candidates for each course will be based on system generated merit list through the portal.

Health Insurance: Members of these communities are likely to have little or no access to medical facilities and other benefits available under the mainstream health policies.

• The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Health Authority (NHA) in association with State Health Agencies (SHAs).
• These agencies will provide a health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakhs per family per year for families as per norms of “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

Livelihood Initiatives: The decline of traditional occupations of DNT communities has exacerbated their poverty. A focus to support livelihood generation for these communities is required.

• The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

Financial Support for Housing: Considering the shortage of houses for DNTs, it has been proposed to earmark a separate outlay for PMAY to support specific importance in providing houses only for DNTs living in rural areas.

• It is for those who have not taken benefit of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (such as SCs, STs, OBCs) and are living below the poverty line.

Impact: It would enhance productivity growth in key livelihood sectors for employment generation through investments in institutional support, technical assistance.