LIVELIHOOD & SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Program / Initiative	Glimpse of Activity	Description / Event Name
Jan Sikshan Sansthan Dhalai		Certificate Distribution to the Trainees under JSS Dhalai
Tribal Skill Centre		Capacity Building Training for the Skill-Trainers
Integrated Tribal Development Project Under TDF of NABARD		Project Inauguration Program
MEDP (Micro Enterprise Development Programme) under NABARD		Floriculture Training Exposure Visit
Livelihood Promotion Through Pig Rearing & Initiative Towards Women Empowerment under APF		Piglets Distribution in Laljuri Block

Background & Objective: Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) - a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. Voluntary Health Association of Tripura (VHAT) has been implementing (as parent organization) this scheme in Dhalai district of Tripura as JSS Dhalai since October 2021. JSS Dhalai covered entire Dhalai District and providing vocational skill training in non-formal mode reaching to the unreached areas in the age group of 15-45 years. The priority groups were women, SC, ST, Minorities and other backward sections of the society. The objective of JSS was to uplift the rural population economically by imparting essential skills training, thereby enabling local trades to grow and creating new employment opportunities for the natives of the region. All courses were aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and certified by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

Project Coverage: With a strong focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups, the Centre has trained 9,279 beneficiaries across diverse trades from beginning. JSS Dhalai made notable progress in 2025–26 by expanding outreach, strengthening skill training, and promoting entrepreneurship. With 1,780 beneficiaries trained across diverse sectors out of 1800 the institution contributed to improved livelihoods, income generation, and community empowerment.

Additionally, JSS Dhalai organized various community activities and awareness events during 2025–26, engaging over 800 participants. These events focused on national pride, social awareness, health, gender equality, and community empowerment.

Physical progress in the year 2025-26: Course wise Training status--

Capacity building Workshop: As per the suggestions of the Ministry, JSS Dhalai participated in and organized capacity building workshop for Resource Persons and staff during 2025–26 to enhance the quality of training delivery and align with national skill development priorities.

Livelihood Activities: During 2025–26, over 30 beneficiaries received seed funding under the PMVK Scheme, enabling them to establish and expand their businesses. Additionally, 52 trained beneficiaries successfully completed Udyam Registration, formalizing their enterprises as registered micro-enterprises. Furthermore, 30 beneficiaries secured wage employment, while 80 beneficiaries successfully established their own home-based businesses without any loan support.

Market Linkages & Exposure: JSS Dhalai participated in the District Level Fairs 2025–26, including the Saras Fair held from 20–22 January 2026 at Motor Stand Ground, Manughat, Dhalai, Tripura and the Purple Fair for Divyangjans on 24 September 2025 at Ambassa, Dhalai, Tripura by setting up stalls. The event provided a platform for trained candidates to interact with employers, attend on-the-spot interviews, creating market linkage and receive seed funding support for entrepreneurship.

Impact of the Project: 1,780 beneficiaries trained across 89 batches in 18 NSQF-aligned job roles, the institution has demonstrated consistent growth in both reach and impact.

Others Activities: World Health Day, Labour Day, International Yoga Day, World Skill Day, Swachhata Hi Sewa -Cleanliness Drive programme, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Rastriya Ekta Diwas, Janjatiy Gaurav Divas, constitution day, World AIDS Day, Republic Day, International Mother Language Day, International Women's Day etc. were some of the events celebrated with utmost zeal and compassion.

Swachhata Hi Sewa Cleanliness Drive Event at JSS Dhalai

Tanusree Deb
Beauty Care Assistant

Rami Molsom
Assistant Embroider

Shraboni Das
Assistant Dress Maker

Few of the aspirants under the project who took training in different fields and grasped success

Introduction: The Tribal Skilling Centre (TSC), project implemented through Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Dhalai, under the flagship scheme – Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The DAJGUA is a central scheme launched by the Prime Minister of India on October 2nd, 2024, to ensure holistic, sustainable development in tribal areas. It aims to cover 63,843 villages, benefiting over 5 crores tribal people across 549 districts of the nation by bridging gaps in health, education, and infrastructure. Voluntary Health Association of Tripura (VHAT), as the parent organization, has been actively implementing this scheme across the entire Dhalai district of Tripura. The initiative focused on providing vocational skill training in a non-formal mode, specifically targeting unreached and underserved tribal populations within the age group of 15–45 years.

Physical Progress during the Year 2025–2026:
The courses offered under the Tribal Skilling Centres (TSCs) were designed as a balanced combination of technical competencies and employability skills. The details of the courses conducted were as follows:

Capacity Building Workshops & Other Activities:
In alignment with the scheme guidelines, capacity-building initiatives were systematically organized for Resource Persons and TSC staff to enhance their technical competencies, training delivery skills, and overall program effectiveness. Apart from this, the Tribal Skilling Centre (TSC) also actively observed and celebrated several important national and international events to promote awareness, social inclusion and cultural values among trainees. These included World AIDS Day, Republic Day, International Mother Language Day, and International Women’s Day.

Vocational Training on Assistant Dress Maker under Tribal Skilling Centre Dhalai

In the year 2025-2026, Voluntary Health Association of Tripura, with the support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Tripura Regional Office, has successfully implemented the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) under the Tribal Development Fund (TDF) across selected tribal-dominated regions of Tripura. The project has been implemented in Laljuri Block of North Tripura District (completed in January 2026), along with on-going interventions in Kalyanpur Block of Khowai District and Amarpur Block of Gomati District.

The initiative was designed with the core objective of improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal households while simultaneously addressing ecological sustainability through scientific and climate-resilient farming practices.

TDF – Laljuri Block, North Tripura District in FY 2025-26:

Project Coverage:

• Village Covered – 6 ADC villages comprising of 300 tribal families
• Area Covered – 300 acres of land covered under the project

Major Components Implemented:

• The intervention focused on promoting orchard-based livelihood systems under the WADI model, wherein each beneficiary family was supported with plantation inputs including mango (Arunika variety), lemon and pineapple, along with training and technical guidance.
• The project also incorporated a holistic development approach through the organization of health camps including general health, eye care, and reproductive and child health services.
• Special focus was also given on promotion of women development initiatives, creation of water resources for irrigation and awareness programs aimed at strengthening community capacity and resilience.
• To promote sustainable livelihoods and enhance local skills, several training camps were also conducted.
• Several Digital Financial Literacy Awareness Program (DFLAP) organized, covering: PMJJBY, PMSBY, Jan Suraksha Yojana, APY, KCC, Mudra loans, ATM usage, and digital/less-cash transaction concepts.
• Anti-Drug and Anti-Tobacco campaigns were also organized from the first year onwards.

Orchard (Mango) of a beneficiary in Laljuri Block

TDF – Kalyanpur Block, Khowai District in FY 2025-26:

Kalyanpur Block project started in June 2024.
Project Coverage: The project aimed to empower 300 targeted families across two ADC villages and one Gram Panchayat through sustainable livelihood models tailored to the local context.

Key Intervention Models for implementation:

1. Horticulture Plantation Model: Benefiting 70 households, this model aims to enhance green cover and generate sustainable long-term income through the cultivation of high-value horticultural crops (Mango, Lemon, Pineapple and border plan Moringa and as intercropping Ginger & Turmeric).
2. Integrated Fish Farming Model: Engaging 60 households, this approach promotes efficient resource utilization by combining aquaculture with complementary agricultural activities.
3. Integrated Pig Farming Model: Targeting 170 households, this model will support improved livestock management, income generation, and nutritional security.

Major Components Implemented:

1. Horticulture, Soil Management & Water Resource Development

• Land clearing and preparation completed for WADI establishment.
• Plantation support: 60 mangos, 20 lemons, 200 pineapples, and 20 moringa (as border plants) per beneficiary.
• 58 families benefited under this intervention and 12 families were in the process of implementation.

2. Fishery Farming with Duckery & Orchard Development

• 60 ducklings distributed to each of the 60 beneficiaries, along with lemon plantation around pond areas.
• Beekeeping training conducted and bee boxes distributed to 60 households to support apiculture as an income-generating activity for women.

3. Integrated Piggery Farming with Orchard Development

• Currently 90 families supported with 2 piglets each, along with:
  • Pig shed construction support
  • Feeding assistance
  • Orchard development: 50 mango and 20 lemon plants per beneficiary under the integrated model.

4. Health Awareness and Sanitation

• 18 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on health and hygiene - 2 FGDs per village per year for 3yrs.
• 18 general health camps organized (2 per village per year), with emphasis on general health and malaria prevention.
• 9 Eye/RCH camps in 3 years (1 camp per village per year).

5. Women Development Initiatives

• 10 awareness sessions on menstrual hygiene for adolescent girls in collaboration with local education and health authorities, targeting 500 participants. Sanitary napkins were distributed during these sessions.
• 220 families supported for organic kitchen garden promotion, organized in 7 batches.

6. Nutri Garden Development

• Promoted to ensure household-level nutritional security through self-grown fruits and vegetables.

7. Training & Capacity Building

• Two Trainings for PIA staff on project implementation and monitoring.
• Orchard development trainings for farmers - 1 training completed.
• Fish cultivation trainings for relevant beneficiaries - 2 training completed.
• Pig rearing trainings to enhance livestock management practices - 3 training completed.
• One Exposure visit for farmers to successful models for experiential learning and skill enhancement will be prepared.

Piggery in Kalyanpur Block

Distribution of Fingerlings

Project Staff with Bee Keepers

TDF – Amarpur Block, Gomati District, FY 2025-26:

With support from NABARD, VHAT has initiated the Integrated Tribal Development Project (TDF) in Amarpur Block, Gomati District and inaugurated on 4th February 2026 at Natunbazar Community Hall in the presence of ADM Gomati, GM NABARD, DDM NABARD, Addl. SDM Amarpur, and other line departments' officials.

The project aimed to empower 200 tribal families across two ADC villages through sustainable and integrated livelihood models. Two key interventions were to be implemented:

• Goatery with Horticulture Plantation for 80 households
• Piggery with Horticulture Plantation for 120 households

Both models to be integrated the livestock rearing with plantation of mango, coconut, dragon fruit, and border crops like moringa and amra (Hog Plum), ensuring income generation, nutritional security, and ecological sustainability.

Additionally, the project included women development initiatives, social development activities, and skill development training to enhance beneficiaries' capacity for sustainable commercial livelihood practices.

The TDF project in Amarpur Block was inaugurated on 4 February, 2026

Staff Orientation Training for TDF Amarpur Project

NABARD’s Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDP) provides skill up-gradation training to Self Help Group (SHG) members to help them set up micro-enterprises. These short term programs, often implemented focusing on farm, non-farm, and service sector activities to increase rural incomes and enhance entrepreneurial capabilities.

Role of VHAT: VHAT successfully implemented a Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDP) on Floriculture in Kalyanpur Block of Khowai District. The programme was conducted for 15 days with the participation of 30 SHG members.

Training Approach & Outcome: Included technical sessions, refresher training, and exposure visits, aimed at enhancing skills and entrepreneurial capacity. Post-training, VHAT facilitated market and bank linkages to support participants in establishing micro-enterprises.

This initiative has contributed to promoting self-employment and sustainable livelihoods among rural women.

Initiation:
Pig rearing has been one of the important livelihood activities of the indigenous people of Tripura. This project aims to pig rearing in commercial & proper way, engaging the women SHG members towards enhancing the livelihood in a cluster approach manner. With support from Azim Premji Foundation (APF), VHAT initiated the project in December 2024, in 2 (two) Village Councils viz Shivnagar VC and Ujan Machmara VC. 400 households (HHs) were targeted, who were mainly from the Tribal Community in Laljuri Block of North Tripura district. The prime objective of the project was to improve the socio-economic condition of the women in the tribal community.

Major Components under the project were:

• Pig farming with technical support, followed by PG formation with marketing linkages.
• Capacity building of women in commercial Pig farming with pig healthcare & proper feeding practices.
• Organizing special health camps for women on preventive health care, especially on menstrual hygiene.
• EDP training for women, supporting the women SHGs in book keeping.
• To provide trained CRP (Pashu Nurse) from the villages to support the pig rearing activities.
• Establishment of a Community Resource Centre (CRC) & empowering the CRC members for future support & hand-holding the pig farmers in farm management & marketing.
• Enhancement the income of the beneficiary-households by approx 50K-60K annually.

Cumulative progress done till March 2026:

• Mobilization has been doing for the next phase of 200 HHs & selection done for 100 HHs for 2nd phase.
• Formation completed for next 10 PGs & training to be completed by May in 5 Batches on Pig Rearing & Management.
• Exposure visit of the 25 pig farmers have done at Hrishi & Arushi Pig Farm, Sabroom.
• Pig Insurance has been doing through insurance campaign.
• Establishment of CRC Office & Feed storage:
  • Out of 200 HHs in more than 20, mother pigs have already given birth of average 10 piglets.
  • 14 HHs have sale their piglets & have earned 50K-60K.
  • Good quality Pig feed was supplying regularly to 200 HHs and also monitoring their healthcare practices.
  • One Community Resource Centre (CRCs) established for regular support to the pig farmers, providing Pig Feed & marketing support to the beneficiaries.

Focus Group Discussion with Beneficiaries

Newborn piglets in a piggery of a Beneficiary

Exposure Visit for piggery beneficiaries

Animal Health Camp