Lok Sabha Question No. 3211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Literacy Rate of Tribal Communities
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3211

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.12.2018

## LITERACY RATE OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

†3211. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the funds allocated to utilise in Madhya Pradesh for the education of tribal population during the last three years and the current year; and
- (b) the measures taken/being taken by the Government for improving the literacy level of tribal communities?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) under its various schemes / programmes has released funds to the State of Madhya Pradesh for the education of tribal population during 2015-16 to 2018-19 as per table below:

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Scheme / Grant                                                                                                    |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19* |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|
| Post Matric Scholarship                                                                                           |   3065    |  13054    |  10320.5  |   13405.2  |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship                                                                                            |   4300    |      0    |   5539.17 |    5728.33 |
| Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy                                                            |    143.57 |    420.04 |    325.2  |     583.73 |
| Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub- Scheme (SCA to TSS) and Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution |   8008.88 |  19449.3  |  23208.5  |   23335.6  |
| Total:                                                                                                            |  15517.5  |  32923.4  |  39393.4  |   43052.9  |

Apart from above, details of funds released by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to the State of Madhya Pradesh under various schemes during 2017-18 and 2018-19 is given below:

| Ministry / Department                       | Scheme / Grant                                |   2017-18 |   2018-19* |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------|------------|
| Department of Higher Education              | Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)     |    250.41 |     315    |
| Department of School Education and Literacy | National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools |  14283.8  |    6905.78 |
| Department of School Education and Literacy | Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan           |   7439.73 |    4311.04 |
| Department of School Education and Literacy | Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan                         |  40830.4  |   31930.8  |
|                                             | Teachers Training and Adult Education         |    400.62 |       0    |
| Total:                                      | Total:                                        |  63205    |   43462.6  |

State wise release of fund by Central Ministries / Departments prior to 2017-18 is not maintained in MoTA as monitoring of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) [now called as Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) has been mandated to MoTA since 2017.

(b): Government has been implementing a number of interventions to improve the educational status of the tribals :

- (i) Funds are provided under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) and Grants under  Article  275  (1)  of  the  Constitution  for  various  interventions  relating  to  improvement  of education  including  construction  of  new  hostel  buildings  and/or  extension  of  existing  hostels, construction of primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary level of education etc.
- (ii) Under scheme of strengthening education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts, 100% assistance is given for running and maintenance of educational complexes for ST girls.
- (iii) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are set up with capacity of 480 students per school under grants in aid under Article 275(1) of the Constitution to States, to provide quality middle, Secondary and higher secondary education to ST students.
- (iv) This Ministry also provides Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students.
- (vi) Funds are provided for recurring expenses for Residential Schools and Non-Residential Schools to Voluntary Agencies.
- (vii) Assistance is provided for construction of Girls toilets to check girl dropout and to address sanitation issues, promotion of kitchen garden, traditional food in school meals and Sports.
- (viii) Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued 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 in local language, engage local teachers to overcome shortage etc.
- (ix) The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) implemented by M/o Human Resource Development (MHRD), provides for free and compulsory elementary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years including ST children. 109 special focus districts have been identified on the basis of the indicators like  out  of  school  children,  high  gender  gap,  low  retention  rate  and  infrastructure  gap  as  well concentration of Scheduled Tribe population.
- (x) Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) scheme provides for residential schools for girls at upper primary level; a minimum of 75% seats are for minority, SC, ST and OBC girls. KGBVs cover 69% ST girls in ST Special Focus Districts.

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