Tripartite MoU Signed to Strengthen Tribal Youth Livelihood Opportunities
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), is supporting livelihood promotion and entrepreneurship development for Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth through the Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at Rourkela, Odisha. On October 22, 2026, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed between National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, National Skill Development Corporation (NSIC) under Ministry of Medium and Small-Scale Industries (MSME), and Steel Authority of India Ltd. – Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP, Rourkela) under Ministry of Steel.
The Livelihood Incubation Centre at Rourkela, established in 2018, has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This represents a unique collaborative effort of three Government of India Ministries and three Central level apex PSUs. The basic objective of the center is to provide training, skill development and entrepreneurship development programs to local ST youth to promote sustainable enterprises, with focus on raising confidence, improving productivity, and creating proper livelihood through training and hand-holding.
The center currently offers courses for ST community students including Assistant Beautician, Self Employed Tailor, Assistant Computer Operator (Tally & Accounting), Assistant Electrician, Bread & Bakery Manufacturing, and Mushroom Farming. Previously, the center has offered training in Welding Technology, Furniture Manufacturing, Soya Milk extraction, Tofu Packaging, Beautician, and Manufacturing Trade (Bread & Bakery) courses. The funding structure involves Rourkela Steel Plant providing the site, plant and machinery installed under the ASPIRE scheme of MSME, and recurring expenses of the center being borne by NSTFDC through grants from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The center has benefited more than 600 students who have set up their own business activities in various trades including bakery, mushroom cultivation, beauty parlour, and tailoring. The center is actively creating awareness among prospective trainees.
Officials present at the signing event included Sh. T. Roumuan Paite, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and CMD NSTFDC; Sh. Kunj Bihari, Company Secretary; Ms. Bismita Das, AGM (Projects & CSR); and Sh. Sunil Sahoo, Chief Zonal Manager, East Zone. Representing SAIL were Sh. Tapankumar G. Kanekar, CGM (TS & CSR) and Sh. R.S. Bora, DGM (CSR). NSIC was represented by Sh. O.P. Singh, Sr. General Manager (Tech. Training & Development Vertical & SBU Head) and Sh. Markandey Kumar, Chief Manager.
Following the MoU signing, an interactive session was held with trainees, faculties, and NSIC officials to discuss various issues pertaining to the functioning of the Center. Way forward strategies regarding mobilization of candidates, working of current modules, and other issues relating to progress of trainees were discussed.