In the Fifth Five Year Plan, for the first time, a strategy of earmarking funds for development of ST was evolved. Because of the concentration of ST population in specific areas, the instrument of the TSP was developed to ensure the flow of benefits from all sectoral programmes and to provide integrated delivery of services in the tribal areas. In the guidelines issued to the state government, the modalities of quantifying funds from identifiable programmes, and tailoring them to the needs of the tribal people and areas-where necessary-were stipulated. Accordingly, separate sub-plans were formulated covering 63 per cent of the tribal population in the country in 16 states and two Union Territories The TSP areas were divided into 180 Integrated Tribal Development Projects for operational purposes.