An agreement for credit of US$ 51 million (equivalent) from IFAD for the Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project (JTLEP) was signed here today. The agreement was signed by Shri Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr.Nigel Brett, Country Prorgamme Director, IFAD, India on behalf of IFAD. JTELP would continue till September 2021.

Similarly a project agreement was signed by Shri L. Khiangte, Principal Secretary, Jharkhand on behalf of the Government of Jharkhand with IFAD.

The Objective of the project is to enable rural households to take-up sustainable livelihood opportunities. The project shall benefit small rural producers, women, scheduled caste households and youth in the hill districts of the State of the Jharkhand. The goal of the project is to reduce poverty in the hill districts of the State of Jharkhand.

The new project has four main components: (i) Community Empowerment (ii) Integrated Natural Resource Management (iii) Livelihood Project (iv) Project Management.

Credit agreement enables financing for the Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project to support targeted rural livelihoods. A credit agreement between the Government of India and IFAD, alongside a project agreement with the Government of Jharkhand, finances the Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project through September 2021 to enable rural households in hill districts to adopt sustainable livelihoods, targeting small rural producers, women, scheduled caste households and youth, and is implemented through four components: Community Empowerment, Integrated Natural Resource Management, Livelihood Promotion, and Project Management.