Lok Sabha Question No. 3034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: Aboriginal Tribes Community
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. † 3034

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## ABORIGINAL TRIBES COMMUNITY

## †3034. SHRI HARI MANJHI :

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of the Aboriginals is continuously shrinking particularly in Jharkhand;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  started  centrally  sponsored  'Aboriginals  community  development' programme for the comprehensive development of aboriginals;
- (d) the funds released and utilised for the development of tribals during the last three years; and
- (e) the outcome of the development schemes for the upliftment of such tribals?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to  (c):  Article  366(25)  of  the  Constitution  of  India  refers  to  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  as  those communities who are scheduled in accordance with Article 342 of the Constitution. The census of India notifies the population as STs and not aboriginals. The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) within STs, for whom a Conservation-cum-Development Plan is envisaged, are further notified on the basis on  declining  or  stagnant  population,  low  level  of  literacy,  pre-agricultural  level  of  technology  and economical backwardness. Nine (PVTGs) have been identified in the State of Jharkhand. As per Census 2011 data, the ST population in Jharkhand is 86,45,042 out of which PVTG population is 2,92,359. The following table shows that PVTG population in Jharkhand has increased during the last decade:

| Name of PVTG   |   Population in 2001 |   Population in 2011 |
|----------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Asur           |                10347 |                22459 |
| Birhor         |                 7514 |                10726 |
| Birjia         |                 5365 |                 6276 |
| Hill Kharia    |               164022 |               196135 |
| Korwa          |                27177 |                35606 |
| Mal Paharia    |               115093 |               135797 |
| Parhaiya       |                20786 |                25585 |
| SauriaPaharia  |                31050 |                46222 |
| Sarvar         |                 6004 |                 9688 |

(Source : Census Data)

The Ministry is implementing a scheme namely 'Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)' for the welfare of PVTG population. The scheme covers  75 identified Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups among Scheduled Tribes in 18 States/ UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The scheme is flexible as it enables the States to focus on areas that they consider is relevant to PVTGs and  their  socio-cultural  environment.  Activities  under  it  include  education,  health,  housing,  land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, construction of link roads, installation  of  non-conventional  sources  of  energy  for  lighting  purpose,  social  security  including JanshreeBima Yojana or any other innovative activity meant for the comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs. The funds are sanctioned to the State Government on submitting their Annual Conservation-cum-Development(CCD)  Plan  before  the  Project  Appraisal  Committee  (PAC)  in  the Ministry for appraisal and approval.

- (d) : A statement showing  funds released and utilized under the scheme of Development of PVTGs across the country during the last three years is as under :

(Rs. In Lakh)

| Year    |   Funds released | Funds utilized (as on 2.8.2018)   |
|---------|------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2015-16 |          21195   | 21195.00                          |
| 2016-17 |          33799.9 | 29896.71                          |
| 2017-18 |          23946   | 12316.35*                         |

- (e): The following Human Development Indicators shows that the bridge between Scheduled Tribes and  Other  Social  Groups  is  declining  which  shows  that  the  welfare/  development  schemes  are benefiting the tribal population:

| Indicators                     | Source                                    |   Scheduled Tribes |   All Social Groups |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
| Literacy rate                  | Census 2011                               |               58.9 |               72.99 |
| School dropout (I-X)           | Educational Statistics at a glance (2014) |               62.4 |               47.4  |
| Infant Mortality Rate          | NFHS 4 (2015-16)                          |               44.4 |               40.7  |
| Under Five Mortality Rate      | NFHS 4 (2015-16)                          |               57.2 |               49.7  |
| Prevalence of anaemia in women | NFHS 4 (2015-16)                          |               59.8 |               53    |
| Agricultural labourer/1000     | Census 2011                               |              334   |              256    |
| Rural BPL (2011-12)            | Tendulkar Committee (Planning Commission) |               45.3 |               25.7  |
| Households with drinking water | Census 2011                               |               19.7 |               46.6  |
| Good houses                    | Census 2011                               |               40.6 |               53.1  |

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