Inclusive Livelihood Programme to be expanded to seven more mandals soon, focus on PVTGs

The Telangana government has decided to expand the Inclusive Livelihood Programme (TGILP) to seven more mandals, with a focus on Scheduled Castes, tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

The programme will now cover Gundala, Pinapaka, Dummugudem and Cherla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Gangaram in Mahabubabad district, Narnoor in Adilabad district and Gattu in Jogulamba Gadwal district. The PVTGs identified in Telangana include Gond, Kollam, Thoti and Chenchu communities.

Being implemented by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in association with the Aga Khan Foundation and BRAC International, this poverty alleviation programme follows the globally recognised Graduation Approach, tailored to local socio-economic conditions.

The Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) has been engaged as a strategic partner and concurrent evaluation agency to ensure evidence-based implementation and mid-course corrections based on field realities.

Officials said the programme adopts a sequenced strategy integrating social protection by providing entitlements, financial inclusion, livelihoods and market linkages, while ensuring convergence with multiple State and Central welfare schemes.

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) underscored the need to design livelihood interventions in tune with local resources and community needs. She pointed to the potential for promoting cottage industries based on Ippa puvvu (mahua flowers) in Agency areas, particularly in the manufacture of oil and food products. Initial success was seen in the recent Medaram Sammakka- Saralamma Maha Jatara, officials said.

Currently being implemented as a pilot, the programme targets 6,000 of the poorest households across eight mandals in five districts — Adilabad, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mulugu, Narayanpet and Nagarkurnool. As of October 2025, 3,554 extremely poor families were covered, according to SERP officials.

SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan said an additional 8,000 families would be brought under the programme and provided financial assistance to enhance income-generating activities under Samaveshi Ajeevikayojana (SAY) under National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

Overall 15,000 families will be covered with a budget of ₹70 crore. The Centre and the State will contribute to the budget in a 60:40 ratio.

The TGILP incorporates elements such as climate resilience through insurance and sustainable livelihood practices, and gender-focused economic and empowerment interventions. An impact evaluation through a randomised control trial is being undertaken by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in collaboration with SERP to assess outcomes and inform scale-up.