Three ministries, one training centre for tribal youth

Economic empowerment, a release of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs argues, becomes more effective only when people's skills are upgraded along with the money they receive. Training and knowledge, it says, must be closely linked to funding if Scheduled Tribe communities are to build livelihoods that last, and new entrepreneurs need basic knowledge of finance, marketing and branding.

The example it gives is the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela in Odisha, set up in 2018 and recognised by the Ministry as a Centre of Excellence. The centre is a joint effort of three ministries acting through public bodies under them: the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) of the Tribal Affairs Ministry, NSIC under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Rourkela Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd under the Ministry of Steel. On 22 October 2026, the three signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding.

Each partner has a defined share. The steel plant provides the site; plant and machinery are installed under the MSME Ministry's ASPIRE scheme; and the centre's recurring expenses are borne by NSTFDC from a grant of the Tribal Affairs Ministry.

The centre's purpose is to train local Scheduled Tribe youth and help them start sustainable enterprises. Courses this year include assistant beautician, self-employed tailor, assistant computer operator (Tally and accounting), assistant electrician, bread and bakery manufacturing, and mushroom farming. The centre has also offered training in welding, furniture making, and soya milk and tofu work. According to the release, more than 600 students have benefited and have set up businesses such as bakeries, mushroom farms, beauty parlours and tailoring units.

At the signing, officials of the three bodies met trainees and teachers and discussed how candidates are brought in, how the current training modules are working and how trainees are progressing.