Lok Sabha Question No. 3114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Education for Tribals
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU, NISHIKANT  DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3114 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.12.2016

## EDUCATION FOR TRIBALS

## 3114.   SHRI C. S. PUTTA RAJU: SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken note that tribals are lagging behind in education in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof compared to the other sections of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and General Category in this regard during the last three years; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken to overcome the situation in coordination with States?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a) & (b): The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for Scheduled Tribes (ST) students is more than 100% for Elementary Education and has improved for the last three years, for Secondary and Higher Education. However, it continues to be much below the country average, as given below:

Gross Enrolment Ratio at various level

| level          | Elementary Education   | Elementary Education   | Elementary Education   | Secondary Education   | Secondary Education   | Secondary Education   | Higher Education   | Higher Education   | Higher Education   |
|----------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Years          | 2013 -14               | 2014 -15               | 2015 -16               | 2013 -14              | 2014 -15              | 2015 -16              | 2013 -14           | 2014 -15           | 2015 -16(P)        |
| All Categories | 97.00                  | 96.89                  | 96.91                  | 76.64                 | 77.59                 | 80.01                 | 23.0               | 24.3               | 24.5               |
| SC             | 107.71                 | 108.00                 | 107.87                 | 78.73                 | 82.69                 | 85.32                 | 17.1               | 19.1               | 19.9               |
| ST             | 105.47                 | 104.03                 | 103.25                 | 70.20                 | 72.15                 | 74.53                 | 11.3               | 13.7               | 14.2               |

Note:- 1. Above 100 GER is due to overage and underage children in the same class as official age children.

2. OBC GER is not maintained.
3. P- Provisional

[Source: National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) & All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), MHRD.]

- (c) The steps taken to further improve the situation in coordination with States are below :-
- (i):  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  has  implemented  various  Centrally  Sponsored and  Central  Sector  Schemes:  Under  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Sarva  Siksha  Abhiyan facilities are being extended to SCs, STs and OBCs at elementary level for text books, uniform, mid day meals, fee reimbursement, residential facility under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya etc.;  the  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abihiyan(RMSA)  scheme  provides  for  enhancing  the enrolment  for  classes  IX-X  by  providing  a  secondary  school  within  a  reasonable  distance  of

every habitation, improving quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary  schools  conform  to  prescribed  norms,  removal  of  gender,  social-economic  and disability  barriers;  Centrally  Sponsored National  Scheme  of  Incentive  to  Girls  for  Secondary Education  (NSIGSE)  provides  for  enrolment  of  girl  students  mainly  belonging  to  SC/ST communities at secondary level and reduction in the drop-out rate by providing Rs.3,000/- as fixed  deposit  on  enrolment  in  class  IX  in  a  State  Government,  Government-aided  and  Local Body schools, who are entitled to withdraw it along with interest thereon on passing X Class and attaining 18 years of age; National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) in the National Curriculum Framework, 2005 (NCF) has taken initiatives for promoting multi lingual education for tribal children and development of wide range of textual materials/ primers in children's mother tongue based on their experience and culture for use in classrooms; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas run by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti provide a system of alternate schools for gifted students including those belonging to SC/ST and OBC.

Besides University Grants Commission (UGC) implements various scholarship/fellowships  schemes  for  financial  assistance  to  selected  candidates  belonging  to SC/ST categories for pursuing Post-Graduation, M.Phil./Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral research and on  full  time/  regular  basis  in  Universities/Institutions/Colleges  in  the  country.  Many  of  these schemes  are  funded  by  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  and  Ministry  of  Tribal Affairs  and  implemented  by  UGC  viz:-P.G.  Scholarship  for  Professional  Courses  for  SC/ST candidates, National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes Students, National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students, National Fellowship for Students of Other Backward Classes (OBC), Post-Doctoral Fellowship for SC/ST.

(ii)  In  addition,  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  implements  a  number  of  interventions  for education  of  tribals:-Ashram  Schools  for  providing  funds    to  States  for  making  residential schools  for  STs  for  primary,  middle,  secondary  and  senior  secondary  level;  ST  Hostels  for central  assistance  to  States/UTs/Universities  for  construction  of  new  hostel  buildings  and/or extension  of  existing  hostels;  Scheme  of  strengthening  education  among  ST  Girls  in  Low Literacy Districts under; Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs); Pre Matric Scholarships; Post Matric Scholarships; National Overseas Scholarship; Top Class Education for ST students; National Fellowship for ST students; Scheme for voluntary agencies provides funds for recurring expenses  for  Residential  Schools  and  Non-Residential  School.  Further,  Ministry  of  Tribal Affairs  issues  Guidelines  on  Special  Central  Assistance  to  Tribal  Sub-Plan  and  advisories  to States for a series of measures to address issues of dropout and for continuing education of tribal children including development of Bilingual Primers containing text both in regional and tribal language and also in local official script, school vacation to be in synchronization with major tribal festivals; residential schools (200-300 students capacity) in block headquarters for quality education  and  physical  safety,  school  management  to  engage  teachers  to  overcome  shortage, 100% screening of children for Sickle Cell Anemia /Trait, 100% physical enrolment of children.

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