Lok Sabha Question No. 5659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: Living Conditions of STs
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE, ARJUNLAL MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 5659

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2018

## LIVING CONDITIONS OF STs

## 5659.   SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE: SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that despite massive sums being spent on the welfare of scheduled tribes, there has been little or no improvement in their living conditions and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware of funds earmarked for the welfare of scheduled tribes being diverted and original beneficiaries being denied their rightful grant and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the action taken to ensure accountability and address systemic anomalies existing;

(d) whether the Government has received any requests for increasing the amount of funds under the said schemes, if so, the details in this regard along with the action taken thereon; and

(e) whether the Government has appointed any agency for monitoring the budgetary allocation and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):   Data pertaining to decennial census, large scale sample surveys conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and various other surveys conducted by different Ministries / Departments of Government  of  India,  reveal  that  over  the  years  there  have  been  vast  improvements  in  living conditions of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), for example, literacy rate for STs has improved from 47.1% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for ST students at Senior Secondary (classes XI-XII) level has increased from 35.4% in 2013-14 to 43.1% in 2015-16.  During 2015, 64.1 % and 68.9  %  ST  students  have  completed  Class  X th and XII th ,  respectively,  through  various  State  and Central Examination Boards including Open Boards. In respect of Scheduled Tribes, Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 62.1 (2005-06) to 44.4 (2015-16), Under Five Mortality Rate has declined from 95.7 (2005-06) to 57.2 (2015-16), and Institutional Delivery has increased from 17.7% in 200506 to 68.0 % in 2015-16. As per the estimates of erstwhile Planning Commission, percentage of ST people living below the poverty line in rural areas has declined from 47.4% in 2009-10 to 45.3% in 2011-12. However, there are still gaps in human development indicators between STs and all India population.

(b):   A performance audit of the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) was taken up by the Comptroller and Auditor General ( C&AG) in 2015. Two major sectors, i.e., Education and Health were taken up for auditing. The period of coverage was 2010-2011 to 2013-2014. Audit found some cases of diversion of TSP funds, as well as spending in ineligible States like Punjab and Haryana.

- (c):      The  following  measures  are  being  undertaken  by  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  to  ensure accountability and to address systemic anomalies as well as for better supervision of the ongoing schemes for Scheduled Tribes:
- i. Utilization Certificates are insisted upon as a pre-requisite for further release of funds.
- ii. Progress reports regarding the status of implementation of schemes are obtained.
- iii. Officers  while  visiting  States  /  UTs  also  ascertain  the  progress  of  implementation  of various schemes / programmes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- iv. Meetings / Conferences are convened at the Central level with State officials for ensuring timely  submission  of  proposals,  speeding  up  of  implementation  of  the  schemes  / programmes, and reviewing the physical and financial progress.
- v. Some of the State Governments have enacted laws on Tribal Sub-Plan. In some States Chief Minister monitors the progress of work relating to tribal welfare and development.
- (d):   Receipt of additional proposals from the State Governments over and above the State allocation is a continuous process. These proposals are considered for approval subject to availability of funds.
- (e):    No  agency  has  been  appointed  by  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  for  monitoring  the  budgetary allocation.  However,  Allocation  of  Business  Rules  has  been  amended  in  January,  2017  whereby Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has been given mandate for monitoring of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds (now called as Schedule Tribe Component) of Central Ministries based on the framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog. An online monitoring system has been put in place by MoTA with web address http://stcmis.gov.in since 2017. The framework envisages monitoring of allocations for welfare of STs under the schemes, monitoring of expenditure vis- à- vis allocations, monitoring of physical performance and outcome monitoring. The framework also envisages to capture location wise details to ensure accountability and targeted spending.

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