Lok Sabha Question No. 2840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Dropout Rate in Tribal Areas
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SONA RAM CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †2840 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017

## DROPOUT RATE IN TRIBAL AREAS

† 2840. COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the post-nomination dropout rate from Primary, Secondary and College level education is on the rise in tribal dominated areas in the country;

(b) if so, the details of such dropouts during the last three years and the current year along with the reaction of the Government thereto, State/UT-wise; and

(c) the remedial steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

(a) &  (b):  As  per  UnifiedDistrict  Information  System  for  Education  (U-DISE), developed  by  the  National  University  of  Educational  Planning  and  Administration (NUEPA), the average annual drop out rate for Scheduled Tribe Students in 2013-14 primary  level  is  7.98  per  cent,  at  elementary  level  is  8.12  per  cent  and  at  secondary level,  it  is  27.20  per  cent  State/UT-wise  details  are  at  Annexure-I.  For  2014-15,  the average annual drop out rate for Scheduled Tribe Students in primary level is 6.93 per cent,  at  elementary level is  7.46 per cent and at  secondary  level, it is  24.68 per  cent. State/UT-wise  details  are  at  Annexure-II.  (Average  annual  drop  out  rate  presents average of grade-specific drop out rates).

(Average annual drop-out rate by  Educational  Level  for  Scheduled  Tribesis  available for two years only as per UnifiedDistrict Information System for Education (U-DISE), and not available for college level)

(c): Government has taken following remedial steps in this regard:

(i)    The  SarvaShikshaAbhiyan  (SSA),  provides  for  free  and  compulsory  elementary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years including ST children. 109 special  focus  districts  have  been  identified  on  the  basis  of  the  indicators  like  out  of school  children,  high  gender  gap,  low  retention  rate  and  infrastructure  gap  as  well concentration of Scheduled Tribe population.

(ii)  The  National  Council  for  Education  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  in  the National Curriculum Framework, 2005 (NCF) makes it clear that language and culture are important to all children's learning including Scheduled Tribes. SSA aims to develop context specific interventions.

(iii)  Kasturba  Gandhi  BalikaVidyalayas  (KGBVs)  scheme:  These  are  the  residential schools for girls at upper primary level; a minimum of 75% seats are for minority, SC, ST and OBC girls. KGBVs cover 69% ST girls in ST Special Focus Districts.

(iv) Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has been implementing a number of educationrelated interventions to facilitate schooling for tribals:

- (i) Ashram Schools: Funds are provided for making residential schools for STs for primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary level of education.
- (ii) ST  Hostels:  Central  assistance  is given  to States/UTs/Universities  for construction of new hostel buildings and/or extension of existing hostels.
- (iii) Scheme  of  strengthening  education  among  ST  Girls  in  Low  Literacy Districts: 100%  assistance is given for running and maintenance of educational complexes for ST girls.
- (iv) Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRSs):  EMRS  are  set  up  with capacity of 480 students per school under grants in aid under article 275(1) of the Constitution to provide quality middle and high level education to ST students.
- (v) Pre Matric Scholarships for ST students
- (vi) Post Matric Scholarships for ST students

(v) Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued advisories to States for a series of measures to  address  issues  of  dropout,  and  for  continuing  education  of  tribal  children including:  development  of  Bilingual  Primers  containing  text  both  in  regional  and tribal language but in local official script, school vacation to be in synchronization with major tribal festivals; residential schools (200-300 students capacity) in block headquarters for quality education and physical safety, promotion of Kitchen garden and Sports, school management to engage teachers to overcome shortage.

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