Lok Sabha Question No. 3068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: Economic Development Schemes for Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3068

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR TRIBALS

## 3068. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched recently any scheme aims at economic development of tribals involved in collection of Minor Food Produces (MFPs) by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and provide them sustainable livelihood and if so, the details thereof.
- (b) whether the scheme is applicable to all tribal hamlets/villages and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism  to  provide  skill  upgradation  and  capacity  building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility and if so, the details thereof along with the list of such initiatives successfully functioning State-wise;
- (d) whether the tribal population in India lags behind other social groups on various social parameters even after surplus Government schemes for their welfare and empowering and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) No, Madam. However the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP' since 2013-14 which intends to provide social safety for MFP gatherers, who are primarily Scheduled Tribes.  The scheme seeks to establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns to MFP gatherers for their efforts in collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc. The scheme envisages fixation and declaration of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the selected Minor Forest Produce (MFP).  Procurement and Marketing operations at pre-fixed MSP is undertaken by designated State agencies.
- (b) The scheme is applicable in all states across the country.
- (c) TRIFED, as part of its marketing development activities for minor forest produce is engaged in skill up gradation and capacity building of MFP gatherers with the objective of improving their income by way of organizing  training  on  non-destructive  harvesting,  primary  processing,  value  addition  and  marketing  of selected MFPs like Mahua Flower, Lac, Donna Pattal, Hill Grass, Tamarind, Amla, Honey, Gum Karaya, Bamboo.  The  training  process  includes  imparting  training  to  beneficiaries  about  scientific  collection, harvesting, storage, grading techniques etc. so that beneficiaries are able to harvest higher quantities and better quality  items  on  sustainable  basis  in  an  eco-friendly  manner,  conversion  of  the  produce  into  marketable products and providing them with simple tool kits to undertake production also wherever required. Inputs are also provided for developing marketing linkages. No data on State-wise successfully functioning facilities is centrally maintained by the Government of India.
- (d) Data pertaining to decennial census, large scale sample survey 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  socio-economic  conditions  of  the Scheduled Tribes, for example literacy rate for Scheduled Tribes has improved from 47.1% in 2001 to 59% in 2011, Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 62.1 (2005-06) to 44.4 (2015-16) and Institutional Delivery in respect of Scheduled Tribes has increased from 17.7% in 2005-06 to 68% in 2015-16. However, there are still gaps in Human Development Indicators between Scheduled Tribes and other social groups.
- (e) Grants are released under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme towards income generating schemes  to  augment  tribal  household  economy  like  establishment  of  Agro/forest/natural  resource  based micro/village industries through training of Tribal Cooperatives/SHGs/individual entrepreneurs.

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