Maharashtra Rani Durgavati Adivasi Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Tribal Development Department of the Government of Maharashtra implements the Rani Durgavati Adivasi Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana for the benefit of tribal women across the state. The scheme is named after Rani Durgavati, known for her strong administration, bravery, and respect for women’s dignity. Through this initiative, the government aims to comprehensively empower tribal women by supporting their progress in key areas such as education, healthcare, administration, social participation, and economic activities, helping them become more independent and self-reliant.

Unlike a regular self-employment scheme, the Rani Durgavati Adivasi Mahila Sakshamikaran Scheme works differently. Many Central, State, and district-level schemes offer subsidies, but beneficiaries are often required to pay a certain amount out of their own pocket. The Government Resolution notes that many tribal women are unable to benefit from such schemes because they cannot arrange this required contribution. Under the Rani Durgavati scheme, the government can pay this beneficiary contribution through the Central Budget Scheme, subject to the applicable rules and prescribed financial limits. 

The Government has also prescribed maximum financial limits for this assistance. For an eligible individual scheme, assistance of up to ₹50,000 may be provided towards the beneficiary contribution. For eligible collective schemes involving two, three, or more beneficiaries, assistance of up to ₹7,50,000 may be provided. These are the maximum limits. The actual amount of assistance is decided based on the contribution required under the specific scheme and the applicable conditions.

The scheme helps tribal women by covering the beneficiary contribution needed in various existing government schemes. The Government Resolution gives examples such as the Pink E-Rickshaw Scheme of the Women and Child Development Department, goat and sheep group distribution, milch animal and buffalo group distribution, the Integrated Poultry Development Scheme, certain components of the Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana, and fisheries-related schemes. It also provides for innovative individual and collective schemes based on local needs. Examples include sewing machines, vegetable vending stalls, and beauty parlour equipment at the individual level, and spice-grinding machines, flour mills, milk collection centres, and Xerox or typing centres at the group level.

Scheme Benefits

The benefit under this scheme is the beneficiary contribution that the Government pays on behalf of the tribal woman. The benefit pattern is given below:-

• Eligible tribal women can receive support towards the beneficiary contribution required under various Central, State and district-level government schemes.
• Individual beneficiaries can receive assistance up to ₹50,000 towards the eligible beneficiary contribution, subject to the applicable scheme conditions.
• Two, three or more tribal beneficiaries coming together for an eligible collective scheme can receive assistance up to ₹7.50 lakh, subject to the prescribed conditions.
• The scheme can help eligible tribal women access benefits such as e-rickshaws, livestock, poultry, agricultural equipment and fisheries equipment under applicable government schemes.
• Tribal women can receive support for their beneficiary contribution under eligible livelihood and income-generating schemes, helping reduce the financial barrier to participation.
• Innovative local livelihood activities such as sewing machines, vegetable stalls, beauty parlour equipment, flour mills, spice-grinding machines and milk collection centres can also be supported, subject to approval and scheme conditions.
• Eligible tribal women's self-help or savings groups can receive support towards their own contribution up to ₹7.50 lakh under applicable schemes, subject to the prescribed conditions.
• The scheme gives priority to vulnerable tribal women, including widows, deserted women, women with disabilities and single women, in applicable project-level schemes.
• Project offices provide guidance and organise camps to help tribal women address difficulties related to required documents and access to eligible schemes.

Eligibility Requirements

Under the Maharashtra Rani Durgavati Adivasi Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana, applicants should meet the following eligibility conditions.

• The applicant must be a woman belonging to a Scheduled Tribe.
• The applicant must be eligible under the Central, State, or district-level scheme for which she seeks the benefit.
• The benefit is limited to the beneficiary share of that scheme, within the prescribed ceiling.
• A group scheme requires two or more tribal women beneficiaries.

Priority Groups

Implementing officers have to give preference to the most vulnerable tribal women while selecting beneficiaries. Among them, the following categories receive priority.

• Widows
• Abandoned or deserted women
• Women with disabilities
• Single women

Required Documents

No separate document list has been prescribed under this scheme. A tribal woman has to submit the documents required under the scheme for which she is applying; some of them are as follows.

• Documents prescribed under the concerned Central, State or district-level scheme
• Caste Certificate of Scheduled Tribe

Steps to Apply

This scheme has no separate application form or online portal of its own. A tribal woman applies for the parent scheme she wants, and the Tribal Development Department pays her beneficiary share under this scheme. Follow the steps below.

Apply Through the Parent Scheme

• Identify the scheme you want the benefit of, such as the Pink E-Rickshaw Yojana, a goat or sheep unit, a milch cattle unit, a poultry unit, a Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana component, or a fisheries scheme.
• Apply for that scheme to its implementing office or authority in the usual manner.
• State that you belong to a Scheduled Tribe and request support for your eligible beneficiary contribution under the Rani Durgavati scheme.
• Submit the documents prescribed under that scheme along with your Scheduled Tribe caste certificate.
• Wait for the selection of beneficiaries by the District Collector, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, or the competent authority of the concerned scheme.
• After selection, the Tribal Development Department releases your beneficiary share, and you receive the sanctioned benefit.

Apply Through the Integrated Tribal Development Project Office

• Visit the Integrated Tribal Development Project office that covers your taluka.
• Ask the Project Officer which schemes are currently available to tribal women under this scheme in your project area.
• Take guidance on the application, the documents, and the deadline of the concerned scheme.
• Attend the document camp arranged by the project office if you do not have a required document.
• Follow the application and beneficiary-selection process prescribed for the concerned scheme.

Apply Under an Innovative Local Scheme

• Approach the Project Officer of your Integrated Tribal Development Project with the livelihood activity you want to start.
• Explain the local need that the activity serves, whether individual, such as a sewing machine, vegetable stall, or beauty parlour, or group, such as a spice mill, flour mill, milk collection centre, or xerox centre.
• Let the project office prepare the proposal within the limit of Rs. 50,000 for an individual and Rs. 7,50,000 for a group.
• Follow up with the project office for the approval and the release of assistance.

Relevant Links

• Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra Portal
• Guidelines of Maharashtra Rani Durgavati Adivasi Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana

Contact Information

• Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra (Mantralaya) Contact Details
• Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra (Field Officer) Contact Details