Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava has informed that the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) / Micro Projects have been as additional institutions for delivery of public goods and services to Scheduled Tribes. These agencies function under overall control of the State Governments. The respective State Government keep watch over these agencies for ensuring effective utilization of funds provided to them for implementation of various programmes / interventions and submission of progress of the work assigned to them. A total of 195 ITDA/ITDPs are there across the country.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued an Operational Guidelines during March 2014 which inter allia lays special emphasis on strengthening of institutions viz. Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) / Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), Tribal Research Institutions (TRIs), Micro Projects through which tribal welfare programmes are implemented in the State. During 2014-15 an amount of Rs. 20350.26 Lakh was released to the State for strengthening of these institution. Though the Ministry has reiterated its stand for furthering the initiative for strengthening of these institutions, no funds has been asked for by the State Government for the purpose during the year 2015-16.