Lok Sabha Question No. 340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Literacy Rate among Scheduled Tribes
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 340

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## LITERACY RATE AMONG SCHEDULED TRIBES

340. SHRI P. KUMAR: SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes as per 2011 Census, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the Literacy rate is lower compared to literacy rate of total population as per Census 2011 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has identified Scheduled Tribe communities having a literacy rate of less than 30% in the country and if so, the details thereof, gender-wise and State-wise; and
- (d) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to upgrade the literacy rate of STs up to the national average in a time-bound manner and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): State/UT-wise  literacy  rate  among  Scheduled  Tribes  as  per  2011  Census  is  given  at Annexure-1 .
- (b): Yes Madam. The literacy rate of Scheduled Tribes (59%) is lower as compared to literacy rate of total population (73%) as per Census 2011. A statement indicating comparison in Literacy Rate of total population and Scheduled Tribe population as per Census 2011, is given below:
- (c): Based on Census 2011, State-wise and gender-wise details of Scheduled Tribe communities having literacy rate less than 30% are given at Annexure-2.
- (d): Ministry of Tribal Affairs supplements the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, which is the line Ministry with  regard to the subject of education, and the State Governments/UT Administrations by way of gaps filling.

| S. No.   |                            | Literacy Rate   | Literacy Rate   | Literacy Rate   |
|----------|----------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|          | Category                   | Person          | Male            | Female          |
| 1        | Total Population           | 73              | 80.9            | 64.6            |
| 2        | Scheduled Tribe Population | 59              | 68.5            | 49.4            |

The Ministry releases funds under the Scheme of Article 275(1) Grants of the Constitution and Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Scheme (SCA to TSS) to the State Government for establishment of schools / hostel and development of educational infrastructure. With a view to maximize retention of ST students within various stages of school education and promoting higher

learning, the Ministry provides monetary in the form of scholarships such as Pre-Matric Scholarship, Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas Scholarship, Scholarship for Top Class Education  and  National  Fellowship  for  ST  students.  The  Ministry  also  implements  a  scheme, namely,  Strengthening  Education  among  Scheduled  Tribe  Girls  in  Low  Literacy  Districts  for educational upliftment of ST girls, which aims to bridge the gap in literacy level between the general female population and ST women in identified districts or blocks.

With  a  view  to  improve  literacy  rate,  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development implements  Saakshar  Bharat,  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  for  Adult  Education  and  Skill Development, in rural areas of 410 districts in 26 States and one UT that had adult female literacy rate of 50 per cent and below as per Census 2001, and including left wing extremism affected districts, irrespective of their literacy rates, with special focus on women and other disadvantaged groups. The principal target of the programme is to impart functional literacy to 70 million adults (60 million female) including 8 million STs (6 million female) in the age group of 15 years and beyond.  So  far,  9.2  million  adult  learners  from  Scheduled  Tribe  community  have  been  made certified literate under the programme.

Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  also  implemented  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan (SSA),  a  Government  of  India  flagship  programme  for  achievement  of  Universalization  of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, making free and compulsory education to children of 6-14 years age group, including ST children. It also implemented the Mid-Day Meal Scheme  with  a  view  to  enhance  enrolment  and  retention  of  children  in  schools.  Rashtriya Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA),  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  and  a special  program  for  residential  schools  for  girls,  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalaya  are  also important schemes being implemented by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

*****

## Annexure 1 referred to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 340 for 18.12.2017 regarding 'Literacy Rate among Scheduled Tribes'.

## Literacy Rates of ST Population: Census 2011

| Sl. No   | State / UT          |   Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes |
|----------|---------------------|-------------------------------------|
|          | INDIA               |                                59   |
| 1        | Jammu &Kashmir      |                                50.6 |
| 2        | Himachal Pradesh    |                                73.6 |
| 3        | Uttarakhand         |                                73.9 |
| 4        | Rajasthan           |                                52.8 |
| 5        | Uttar Pradesh       |                                55.7 |
| 6        | Bihar               |                                51.1 |
| 7        | Sikkim              |                                79.7 |
| 8        | Arunachal Pradesh   |                                64.6 |
| 9        | Nagaland            |                                80   |
| 10       | Manipur             |                                72.6 |
| 11       | Mizoram             |                                91.5 |
| 12       | Tripura             |                                79.1 |
| 13       | Meghalaya           |                                74.5 |
| 14       | Assam               |                                72.1 |
| 15       | West Bengal         |                                57.9 |
| 16       | Jharkhand           |                                57.1 |
| 17       | Odisha              |                                52.2 |
| 18       | Chhattisgarh        |                                59.1 |
| 19       | Madhya Pradesh      |                                50.6 |
| 20       | Gujarat             |                                62.5 |
| 21       | Daman &Diu          |                                78.8 |
| 22       | Dadra &Nagar Haveli |                                61.9 |
| 23       | Maharashtra         |                                65.7 |
| 24       | Telengana           |                                49.5 |
| 25       | Andhra Pradesh      |                                48.8 |
| 26       | Karnataka           |                                62.1 |
| 27       | Goa                 |                                79.1 |
| 28       | Lakshadweep         |                                91.7 |
| 29       | Kerala              |                                75.8 |
| 30       | Tamil Nadu          |                                54.3 |
| 31       | A &NIslands         |                                75.6 |

Note: No Notified Scheduled Tribes in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, NCT of Delhi and Puducherry as in 2011

Annexure 2 referred to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 340 for 18.12.2017 regarding 'Literacy Rate among Scheduled Tribes'.

## State-wise and gender-wise Scheduled Tribe communities having literacy rate less than 30%: Census 2011

| State/UT                 | Scheduled Tribes                                                                                           | Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes   | Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes   | Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes   |
|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|                          |                                                                                                            | Persons                             | Males                               | Females                             |
| ANDAMAN& NICOBAR ISLANDS | Jarawas                                                                                                    | 0                                   | 0                                   | 0                                   |
| ANDAMAN& NICOBAR ISLANDS | Sentinelese                                                                                                | 0                                   | 0                                   | 0                                   |
| ANDAMAN& NICOBAR ISLANDS | Shom Pens                                                                                                  | 3.23                                | 2.24                                | 4.82                                |
| ANDHRA PRADESH           | Kondhs, Kodi, Kodhu, Desaya Kondhs, Dongria Kondhs, Kuttiya Kondhs, Tikiria Kondhs, Yenity Kondhs, Kuvinga | 29.50                               | 40.48                               | 18.88                               |
| ANDHRA PRADESH           | Nakkala, Kurvikaran                                                                                        | 25.46                               | 29.03                               | 21.98                               |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | Havi Tangsa                                                                                                | 24.83                               | 33.8                                | 16.12                               |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | Laju                                                                                                       | 25.92                               | 43.44                               | 9.89                                |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | Lish Monpa                                                                                                 | 29.67                               | 34.9                                | 24.53                               |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | Sulung                                                                                                     | 21.53                               | 27.88                               | 14.49                               |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | Sulung Bangni                                                                                              | 18.18                               | 16.67                               | 20                                  |
| ASSAM                    | Chakma                                                                                                     | 27.98                               | 36.76                               | 18.46                               |
| BIHAR                    | Banjara                                                                                                    | 24.08                               | 28.54                               | 19.6                                |
| KERALA                   | Cholanaickan                                                                                               | 19.79                               | 12.5                                | 30                                  |
| ODISHA                   | Koya, Gumba Koya, Koitur Koya, Kamar Koya, Musara Koya                                                     | 29.87                               | 36.46                               | 23.77                               |
| ODISHA                   | Mankirdia, Mankria, Mankidi                                                                                | 21.14                               | 25.91                               | 16.11                               |
| UTTAR PRADESH            | Agariya                                                                                                    | 24.57                               | 33.44                               | 15.14                               |
| UTTAR PRADESH            | Baiga                                                                                                      | 28.53                               | 37.42                               | 18.89                               |

****