Lok Sabha Question No. 2144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Scheme for Tribal Communities
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2144

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2019

## SCHEME FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

2144.  SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new schemes to provide higher education and nutritious food to the children of tribal communities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  any  steps  to  provide  education  and employment to the children and youth of such communities; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): Ministry of Tribal Affairs  does not propose to introduce any new scheme to provide higher education and nutritious food to the children of tribal communities as such schemes are already being implemented.

The  details  of  schemes  /  programmes  being  implemented  by  the  Ministry  of Tribal Affairs for overall development including support for education, health, sanitation, water supply, skill development, livelihood etc. of Scheduled Tribes in the country is at Annexure.

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## Annexure referred in reply to part (c) & (d) to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2144 for 02.12.2019  by  SHRIMATI  POONAM  MAHAJAN  regarding  'SCHEME  FOR  TRIBAL COMMUNITIES'.

## Brief details of schemes / programmes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

(i) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution: It is a 100% grant from Government of India. Funding  under  this  programme  is  to  enable  the  State  to  meet  the  cost  of  such  schemes  of development  as  may  be  undertaken  by  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  welfare  of Scheduled Tribes in that State or raising the level of administration of Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State. Government has adopted a multipronged strategy for overall development of tribal people across the country, which includes various sectors viz. (i) Education (ii) Health (iii) Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry (AH), Fisheries, Dairy  &  others  in  Primary  Sector  (iv)  Other  income  generating  schemes  to  augment  Tribal household economy and (v) Administrative structure / Institutional framework & Research studies.

## (ii) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):

The  scheme  of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) was introduced in the year 1997-98  to  impart  quality  education  exclusively  to  ST  children  with  an  objective  to  provide quality  middle  and  high-level  education  to  Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  students  in  remote  areas  in order to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and get jobs in government and public and private sectors.Realizing the importance of the EMRS, in the Union Budget of 2018-19, Government announced that 'The Government is committed to provide the best quality education to the tribal children in their own environment. To realize this mission,  it  has  been  decided  that  by  the  year  2022,  every  block  with  more  than  50%  ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School. Eklavya  schools  will  be  on  par  with  Navodaya  Vidyalayas  and  will  have  special  facilities  for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development."

It was a component of Grants under Article 275(1). During 2018-19, a separate scheme was  introduced.  In  terms  of  the  aforesaid  Budget  announcement,  Cabinet  Committee  on Economic Affairs (CCEA), in its meeting held on 17.12.18, inter-alia approved the revamping of the EMRS Scheme. As on 30.10.19, there are 438 sanctioned schools across the country out of which 284 schools have been made functional.

## (iii) Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes:

The prime objective of the scheme is to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of Government and  fill  the  gaps  in  service  deficient  tribal  areas,  in  sectors  such  as  education  and  health, through the efforts of voluntary organizations, and to provide an environment for socioeconomic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs).

- (iv)  Strengthening  Education  among  ST  Girls  in  Low  Literacy  Districts :  Scheme  is exclusively for ST girls in 54 districts identified in the country, where the ST population is 25% or more  and  ST  female  literacy  rate  is  below  35%  or  its  fractions,  as  per  2001  Census.  The scheme is being implemented through Voluntary Organisations /Non-Governmental Organisations and aims at enhancing the literacy rate of tribal girls, bridging the gap in literacy levels between the general female population and tribal women and reducing drop-outs at the elementary level by creating the required ambiance for education.

(v)  Pre-Matric  Scholarships  to  ST  students: Applicable  to  students  who  are  studying  in Classes IX - X. Priority is given for girls. Parental income from all sources should be less than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Scholarship of Rs.225/- per month for day scholars and Rs.525/- per month  for  hostellers  is  given  for  a  period  of  10  months  in  a  year,  Scholarships  are  paid  @ Rs.225/- per month for Day Scholars and @ Rs.525/- per month for Hostellers, for a period of 10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration.

Funds  shared at the ratio of 75:25 between  the Centre and State  Governments/UT Administrations and 90:10 for NE and Specially Category States/UTs (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal  Pradesh  and  Uttarakhand)  from  2014-15  onwards  and  for  UT  without  legislature 100% Share is released by Centre.

- (vi) Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: Applicable to students who are studying in any recognized course from a recognized institution for which qualification is Matriculation/Class X or above. Priority is given for girls. Parental income from all sources should be less than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Compulsory fees charged by educational institutes are reimbursed subject to the  limit  fixed  by  the  concerned  State  Fee  Fixation  Committee  and  Scholarship  amount  of Rs.230  to  Rs.1200  per  month,  depending  upon  the  course  of  study  is  paid.  Scholarship  is distributed through the State Government/UT Administration. Funds shared at the ratio of 75:25 between  the  Centre  and  State  Governments/UT  Administrations   and  90:10  for  NE  and Specially Category States/UTs (UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) from 2014-15 onwards and for UT without legislature 100% Share is released by Centre.

(vii) National Overseas Scholarships for ST Candidates for Studying Abroad: The Scheme provides for financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD & PostDoctoral study abroad. A total of 20 awards are given every year. Of these, 17 awards are for STs  and  3  awards  for  students  belonging  to  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups  (PVTGs). Parental/family income  from  all  sources  should  not  exceed  Rs.6.00  lakhs  per  annum. Disbursement of scholarships through the Ministry of External Affairs/ Indian Missions abroad.

## (viii) National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education  of ST students:

- (a)  Scholarship  for  Higher  Education  (earlier  known  as  Top  Class  Education  For  St Students):  S cholarship is  given to  ST  students for  pursuing  studies  in prescribed  courses  in any of the 246 institutions  of  excellence  across  the  country  like  IITs,  AIIMS,  IIMs,  NIITs,  etc. identified by the Ministry. Priority is given to girls.Total number of scholarships is 1000 per year. Family  income  from  all  sources  should  not  exceed  Rs.6.00  lakhs  per  annum.Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer.
- (b)  Fellowship  (earlier  known  as  Rajiv  Gandhi  National  Fellowship  scheme  for  ST students): 750 fellowships are provided to ST students each year for pursing higher studies in India for M.Phil and PhD.  Fellowship is granted as per UGC norms. (Presently, @ Rs.25,000/for JRF and @Rs.28,000/- for SRF).
- (ix) Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) :- It is 100% grant from Government  of  India.    Its  objective  is  to  bridge  the  gap  between  Scheduled  Tribes  (ST) population and others by providing support education, health, sanitation, water supply, livelihood, skill development, minor infrastructure etc.
- (x) Development  of  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups  (PVTGs): The  scheme  of Development of PVTGs covers 75 identified PVTGs among Scheduled Tribes in 18 States and UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for the activities like education, 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  or  any  other innovative  activity  meant  for  the  comprehensive  socio-economic  development  of  PVTGs.  The activities related to educational development of tribals is also funded under the scheme.

## (xi)  Institutional  Support  for  Development  &  Marketing  of  Tribal  Products/Produce (Central Sector Scheme):-

This  Central  Sector  scheme  which  is  continuing  since  1992-93,  is  being  implemented through  the  Tribal  Cooperative  Marketing  Development  Federation  of  India  Ltd.  (TRIFED),  a multi-State  cooperative  Society  under  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  and  the  State  Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations (STDCCS). The objective of this Scheme is to create institutions  for  the  Scheduled  Tribes  to  support  marketing  and  development  of  activities  they depend on for their livelihood.  These are sought to be achieved by specific measures like (i) market  intervention;  (ii)  training  and  skill  up-gradation  of  tribal  Artisans,  Craftsmen,  MFP gatherers etc.; (iii) R&D/IPR activity; and (iv) Supply chain infrastructure development.

(xii) 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price  (MSP)  &  Development  of  Value  Chain  for  MFP'  : Minimum  Support  Price  for  Minor Forest Produce scheme (MSP for MFP Scheme), started by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the year 2013-14, was the first step in the direction of providing fair price to tribals. Initially, the scheme included 10 MFPs in 9 States having Schedule V areas. It was later expanded to 49 MFP items and is applicable in all States. The Scheme is implemented through State level agency (SLA) appointed by the State Government. Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides a revolving fund to the SLA  as  also  funds  to  develop  infrastructure  for  safe  storage,  primary  processing  and  value addition of MFP items in the ratio of 75% Central share: 25% State share.

The scheme seeks to establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns for their efforts in  collection,  primary  processing,  storage,  packaging,  transportation  etc.  It  also  seeks  to  get them a share of revenue from the sales proceeds with cost deducted. It also aims to address other issues for sustainability of process.

Van  Dhan  Vikas  Karyakram  is  an  initiative  targeting  livelihood  generation  for  tribal population  by  harnessing  the  wealth  of  forest  i.e.  Van  Dhan  at  value  addition  and  marketing centers  namely  'Van  Dhan  Vikas  Kendras.  The  programme  aims  to  tap  into  the  traditional knowledge and skill sets of tribal people by adding technology and Information Technology for upgradation  of  output  at  each  stage  and  to  convert  the  tribal  wisdom  into  a  remunerative economic activity.

(xiii) Support to National/State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations (NSTFDC/STFDCS): This is a centrally sponsored Scheme wherein funds are released by the Ministry  to  the  NSTFDC,  a  CPSE  under  this  Ministry  and  the  State  Tribal  Finance  & Development  Corporation  (STFDCs)  by  way  of  equity support against their respective authorized share capitals.

The main objectives of the scheme are, to identify economic activities of importance to the  Scheduled  Tribes  so  as  to  generate  self-employment  and  raise  their  income  level;  to upgrade their skills  and processes through both institutional  and  on the  job  training; to make existing State/ UT Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations (SCAs) and other developmental  agencies  engaged  in  economic  development  of  the  Scheduled  Tribes  more effective; to assist SCAs in project formulation, implementation of NSTFDC assisted schemes and in imparting training to their personnel; and to monitor implementation of NSFDC assisted schemes in order to assess their impact.

(xiv) Support to Tribal Research  Institutes (TRIs) and Tribal Festivals,  Research Information and Mass Education: The focus under these schemes of the Ministry is to promote tribal art and culture.  Ministry has se t up Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in the States.  TRIs are maintained by the State Government.  Further, the APEX Committee recommended for the TRI activities of the State Government.  TRIs carry out various activities viz. research studies, evaluation  studies,  organization  or  training/  seminar/workshop,  organisation  of  tribal  festivals, baseline survey, publication, documentaries / documentation, organisation of exchange of visits etc. over the years.

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