Lok Sabha Question No. 122 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-03
Subject: Education for Tribals in their Mother Tongue
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†122

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2020

## EDUCATION FOR TRIBALS IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUE

## † 122.  SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of education with regard to Scheduled Tribes in the country;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to provide education to the children of Scheduled Tribes in their own mother tongue at pre-primary and primary level;
- (c) the details of ratio of scheduled tribe teachers in schools, State-wise;
- (d) whether the adaption programmes regarding tribal languages and culture are run for regular and contractual teachers in tribal regions;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  supports  any  initiative  to  publish  the  text  books  and  children  books  in  tribal languages and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the tribal festivals and occasions are considered while making the teaching time-table and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a) : As per the census 2011, the literacy rate of Scheduled Tribes (STs) is 59 % as compared to 73 % for  all  category.Further,  as  per  71 st round  (January  -  June,  2014)  survey  conducted  by  National  Sample Survey  Office  (NSSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  &  Programme  Implementationon  'Social  Consumption: Education' literacy rate for STs is 67% and corresponding figure for all category is 76%.

As per data of Ministry of Human Resource Development, the average annual Drop-Out rate of Scheduled Tribe students for the year 2014-15 in respect of Primary, Upper Primary and Secondary levels is 6.93, 8.59 and 24.68 respectively. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Scheduled Tribe Students for the year 2016-17 in respect of Primary, Upper Primary, Elementary, Secondary and Senior Secondary levels is 101.6, 95.7, 99.6, 73.5 and 42.7 respectively.

- (b) :  Section 29 (2) (f) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 states that 'medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, be in child's mother tongue'. The National Curriculum  Framework  (NCF),  2005  emphasizes  the  importance  of  imparting  primary  education  in  the mother tongue of the child. Since education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, States have the liberty  to  decide  the  medium  of  instruction  in  schools.  The  NCF  clearly  states  that  the  Three-Language Formula is an attempt to address the challenges and opportunities of the linguistic situation in India. As per the 'Three Language Formula' the first language to be studied must be the mother tongue or the regional language.

(c)Percentage of Scheduled Tribe Teachers in Primary with Upper Primary and Secondary Schools - All Areas, All Management is given at Annexure - I.

(d)Governments  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Jharkhand  and  Telangana  have  informed  that  such  programmes  are conducted in their States.

- (e): Ministry of Tribal Affairs extends support to State Governments / UTs for mother tongue-based education and development of bilingual Primers for enhancement of learning achievement level amongst the Scheduled Tribe Students. So far 82 language primers have been developed by various State Governments as detailed below:
- (f) Ministry of Tribal Affairs advocates for considering tribal festivals and occasions while making the teaching time-table through issuance of advisories to the States from time to time.  Government of Jharkhand  has  informed  that  academic  calendar  is  prepared  considering  local  holidays  and  tribal festivals.  Government  of  Telangana  has  informed  that  State  Government  is  giving  flexibility  to  the District  Collectors,  Project  Officers  of  Integrated  Tribal  Development  Agencies  to  declare  local holidays to Education Institutions during Tribal Festivals.

| State          | Primers Details   | Language / tribe covered                                                   |
|----------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tripura        | 14 Primers        | Kokborak, halam, Mog, Garo, Kuki, Mizo                                     |
| Odisha         | 5 Primers         | Juang, Kisan, Koya, Oram, Saora                                            |
| Maharashtra    | 11 Primers        | Gondi, Halbi, Kokni, Kolami, Korku, Madiya, Mavchi, Pardhi, Pawari, Thakri |
| Madhya Pradesh | 15 Primers        | Halbi, Kudhukh, Bhili, Gondi, Korku,                                       |
| Kerala         | 6 Primers         | Kattunaikan, Paniyan                                                       |
| Chhattisgarh   | 5 Primers         | Kukudu, Praja, Halbi, Bharia                                               |
| Jharkhand      | 5 Primers         | Kukudu, Khadia, Khorat                                                     |
| Telangana      | 5 Primers         | Gondi, Koya, Kolami, Kondh, Banjara                                        |
| West Bengal    | 16 Primers        | Olchiki, Kuduk                                                             |

## Annexure I referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 122 for 03.02.2020 regarding 'Education for Tribals in their Mother Tongue'

## Percentage of Scheduled Tribe Teachers in Primary with Upper Primary and Secondary Schools - All Areas All Management

| S. No   | India / State            | Male   | Female   |
|---------|--------------------------|--------|----------|
|         | India                    | 9.32   | 6.18     |
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh           | 18.88  | 9.41     |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh        | 48.05  | 60.11    |
| 3       | Assam                    | 14.03  | 12.75    |
| 4       | Bihar                    | 1.66   | 2.69     |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh             | 14.61  | 11.90    |
| 6       | Goa                      | 4.10   | 1.32     |
| 7       | Gujarat                  | 8.74   | 7.03     |
| 8       | Haryana                  | 0.04   | 0.05     |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh         | 5.31   | 4.86     |
| 10      | Jammu &Kashmir **        | 8.40   | 4.73     |
| 11      | Jharkhand                | 13.58  | 27.97    |
| 12      | Karnataka                | 4.71   | 2.72     |
| 13      | Kerala                   | 2.18   | 1.70     |
| 14      | Madhya Pradesh           | 4.33   | 4.14     |
| 15      | Maharashtra              | 5.68   | 3.76     |
| 16      | Manipur                  | 37.49  | 35.99    |
| 17      | Meghalaya                | 69.96  | 79.39    |
| 18      | Mizoram                  | *      | *        |
| 19      | Nagaland                 | 72.67  | 86.23    |
| 20      | Odisha                   | 14.46  | 9.07     |
| 21      | Punjab                   | 0.02   | 0.02     |
| 22      | Rajasthan                | 9.01   | 4.96     |
| 23      | Sikkim                   | 38.69  | 40.25    |
| 24      | Tamil Nadu               | 1.22   | 0.96     |
| 25      | Telangana                | 8.20   | 3.57     |
| 26      | Tripura                  | 26.45  | 31.10    |
| 27      | Uttarakhand              | 2.42   | 2.23     |
| 28      | Uttar Pradesh            | 1.03   | 0.78     |
| 29      | West Bengal              | 3.56   | 5.05     |
| 30      | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 10.98  | 10.97    |
| 31      | Chandigarh               | 0.14   | 0.15     |
| 32      | Dadar& Nagar Haveli#     | 63.38  | 20.00    |
| 33      | Daman &Diu#              | 6.06   | 5.33     |
| 34      | Delhi                    | 3.41   | 0.49     |
| 35      | Lakshadweep              | 100.00 | 95.00    |
| 36      | Puducherry               | 0.00   | 0.04     |

#Figures are before unification of the two UTs - Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu Source : Elementary Educations in India, 2016-17, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) & Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development Government of India.