Lok Sabha Question No. 431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Socio-Economic Development of Scheduled Tribes
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO † 431

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SCHEDULED TRIBES

## † 431.   SHRI ALOK SANJAR

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the socio-economic condition of tribals has improved adequately during the last three years in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government for the socio-economic development of scheduled tribes;
- (c) the targets set and achievements made during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period; and
- (d) the mechanism put in place for the effective implementation of various schemes for the socio-economic development of tribals in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Yes,  Madam.  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 there have been vast improvements in socio-economic conditions of the Scheduled Tribes (STs).The percentage of STs below poverty line in rural areas has improved from 47.4 % in 2009-10 to 45.3 % in 2011-12, literacy rate for STs has improved from 47.1% in 2001 to 59% in 2011 and, Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 57.0 (2005-06) to 44.4 (2015-16).
- (b): Some of the flagship schemes / programmes being implemented by the Ministry for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes (STs) are as under:
- 1) Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS)
- 2) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution
- 3) Scholarships schemes for ST Students:
- A. Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST Students
- B. Post Matric Scholarships to ST Students
- C. National Overseas Scholarships
- D. National fellowship & scholarship for higher education of ST students:
- (i) Scholarship for Higher Education (earlier known as Top Class Education for ST Students)
- (ii) Fellowship (earlier  known  as  Rajiv  Gandhi  National  Fellowship  Scheme  for ST Students).
- 4)   Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
- 5)  Scheme  of  Grant-in-aid  to  voluntary  organizations  working  for  the  welfare  of Scheduled Tribes.
- (a) Vocational Training in Tribal Areas.
- (b) Scheme of Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts.

Besides,  the  Ministry  is  also  implementing  the  scheme  of  Institutional  support  for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products / Produce and Mechanism for marketing of Minor  Forest  Produce  (MFP)  through  Minimum  support  Price  (MSP)  and  development  of Value Chain for MFP.

Further  various  Central  Ministries  /  Departments  as  well  as  State  Governments  are also implementing schemes / programmes for socio-economic development of STs.

- (c): Schemes / programmes being implemented by the Ministry are gap filling in nature and not  confined  to  any  specific  kind  of  quantifiable  measures.   Priority  for  the  activities  to  be taken  up  is  decided  by  respective  State  Governments  as  per  needs  from  time  to  time.   Fund released under various flagship schemes / programmes implemented by the Ministry during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period (2012 to 2017) is given at Annexure.
- (d): The following steps are taken for the effective implementation of various schemes for the socio-economic development of tribals in the country by the Ministry:
- Mechanism  of  Project  Appraisal  Committee  (PAC)  has  been  introduced  by  the Ministry in 2014 for appraisal and approval of projects of State Governments under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS), Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution and Scheme for Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The Committee is headed by Secretary (Tribal Affairs) with representatives  of  State  Governments,  Financial  Advisor,  representative  from  NITI Aayog, etc.
- Further,  Allocation  of  Business  rules  (ABR)  has  now  been  amended  in  January, 2017  whereby  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  has  been  given  mandate  for monitoring of 'Scheduled Tribe Component' funds of central Ministries based on the framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog.
- An online monitoring system has been put in place with web address stcmis.nic.in. The  framework  envisages  monitoring  of  allocations  for  welfare  of  STs  under  the schemes,  monitoring  of  expenditure  vis-a-vis  allocations,  monitoring  of  physical performance  and  outcome  monitoring  for  the  effective  implementation  of  the schemes.
- Utilization Certificates are insisted upon as a pre-requisite for further release of funds as per the norms of GFR.
- Progress reports regarding the status of implementation of schemes are obtained.
- Officers while visiting States also ascertain the progress of implementation of various schemes/ programmes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- 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.

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Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of LokSabha Unstarred Question No. 431 for 5.2.2018 regarding 'Socio-Economic Development of Scheduled Tribes'

## Fund released under various schemes / programmes during 2012-13 to 2016-17

(Rs. in crore)

| Name of the Schemes/Programmes                                         |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 | 2015-16   |   2016-17 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub- Scheme (SCA to TSS)          |    852.54 |   1050    |   1039.99 | 1132.17   |   1195.02 |
| Grants under Art. 275(1) of the Constitution                           |    819.99 |   1097.13 |   1132.64 | 1392.26   |   1265.81 |
| Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST Students                                 |    111.73 |    219.43 |    200.71 | 228.69    |     84.17 |
| Post Matric Scholarships to ST Students                                |    730.74 |    736.15 |    720.98 | 857.15    |   1555.67 |
| Scheme for the Development of PVTGs                                    |    178.5  |    206.9  |    180    | 213.54    |    340    |
| Grant-in-Aid to voluntary Organizations Working for the Welfare of STs |     18.09 |     40    |     44.5  | 21.75     |     53.06 |
| Strengthening Education of ST Girls in low literacy Districts          |      7.41 |     40.3  |     35    | 53.30     |     65.45 |
| Vocational Training in Tribal Areas                                    |      1.68 |      2.71 |      2.7  | -         |      1.49 |

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