Lok Sabha Question No. 248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: UN report on Indigenous People
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 248 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## UN REPORT ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

## 248. SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  the  indigenous  tribes  in  India  suffer disproportionately  high  levels  of  poverty,  illiteracy,  poor  health  and  human  rights  abuse, according to United Nations State of World's Indigenous Peoples Report and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether large dams and other infrastructural projects have displaced these indigenous tribes without adequate compensations and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  arbitrary  actions  have  been  taken  against  these  people  as  a  result  of  their mobilisation to defend their rights against Government and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is need for acceptance of their collective rights; and

(e) steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): As per information available, the United Nations State of the World's Indigenous Peoples Report, 2009 reported that 'Indigenous peoples all over the world continue to suffer from disproportionally high rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human abuses.'

Government  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  strategy  for  overall  development  of  STs across the country, which includes support for education, health, sanitation, water supply, skill development,  livelihood,  infrastructure,  etc.  Major  part  of  infrastructure  development  and provision of basic amenities in tribal areas / regions in the country is carried out through various schemes / programmes of concerned Central Ministries and the State Governments concerned, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides additive to these initiatives by way of plugging critical gaps.

Almost all developmental projects involve land acquisition, they result in displacement of people. Since large dams, etc., are constructed in remote areas mostly inhabited by tribal people,  they  are  also  affected.  However,  land  and  its  management  fall  under  the  exclusive legislative and administrative jurisdiction of States as provided under the Constitution of India (Seventh Schedule - List II - (State List) - Entry No. 18). Hence, data on people displaced due to construction of dams and other infrastructural projects is not maintained centrally. Tribal people, who are displaced due to construction of large dams and infrastructural projects are provided  compensation  in  terms  of  the  provisions  of  Right  to  Fair  Compensation  and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Further,  arbitrary  actions  against  the  indigenous  tribal  people  as  a  result  of  their mobilization to defend their rights against the Government relate to law and order matter, which falls within the purview of State Governments. Such details are not centrally maintained.