Lok Sabha Question No. 1471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Modernisation of ‘Tandas’ Community
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1471

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## MODERNISATION OF 'TANDAS' COMMUNITY

## 1471 SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  one  of  the  objective  under  the  various  flagship  projects  of  the  Government  is  the improvement/face-lift  programme  of  the  typical  'Tandas'  inhabited  by  'Lambani'  community mainly in the States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh;

- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  whether the Government is considering the complete modernization of these 'Tandas' in a big way and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  The  Government of Karnataka has announced a flagship programme in its 2018-19 budget, known as Pragathi Colony/ Thanda' for overall development of most backward Thandas in  Karnataka.  In  this  regard  the  Karnataka  Thanda  development  Corporation  has  selected  46 most backward Thandas, in 1 st stage and action taken to provide infrastructural facilities like CC Road, Drains, Community Halls, Pure Drinking water plants, highmast lamps, Connecting road etc. The Government also Planned to develop rest of the Backward thandas in upcoming years. The Government of Karnataka has established a special purpose organization called the Thanda Development Corporation (KTDCL) during, 2009, for complete development and modernization of the 3395 thandas in a big way. The main objective of KTDCL are as under.

(i) To  create  Physical,  socio-economic,  cultural,  moral  education  and  healthcare related  infrastructure  for  the  overall  development  of  thandas  in  particular  and  thanda habitants  in  general  and  to  develop  and  facilitate  to  develop  basic  infrastructure  and communication facilities, community cdnter's etc to thandas.

(ii) To provide necessary infrastructure for providing quality education to the thanda habitants by establishing mobile schools, part-time hostels and residential school on the line of model Morarji/Desai/navodaya/ kittur rani Chennamma/Ekalavya/Ashrama Shalas (From 1 st to 10 th std) and mobile.

(iii) To create such economic infrastructure that provides an opportunity for the thanda habitants  to  engage  in  self-employment  and  group  employment/income  generation activities and to undertake training programme for acquiring new skills and upgrading/

enhancing  and  developing  the  skills  in  various  fields,  especially  the  traditional  unique Kasuthi Skill (Stitching & embroidery) of Banjara Costumes to attract young Lambani generation and fashion world to renew, promote & strengthen socio economic conditions of the community.

- (iv) To Facilitate in providing legal title to agriculture land of Banjara Farmers who are cultivating for the livelihood since long time in forest land/ Government land/Gomal land and also to facilitate in providing legal status to thandas by way of providing legal titles over the sites and houses constructed in forest land, Government land/ Gomal and in private land and also to regularize the sites and houses occupied by thanda habitants in such lands from ages. And to facilitate and co-ordinate with the concerned departments in converting the remaining thandas (hamlet village's) into revenue villages. In this regard the  Govt  of  Karnataka  has  released  the  Grants  to  the  KTDCL,  and  the  works/ Programmes undertaken in the last 5 years are as under.
2. Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana has intimated that  there are about 5848  Tandas  inhabited  by  Lambadis  in  the  State  of  Telangana.  Out  of  which,  1271  Tandas having 500 and more population have been declared as separate Gram Panchayats so as to enable for  all  round  development  of  the  Tandas.    Other  important  facilities  like  safe  drinking  water (under  Mission  Bhageeratha)  and  Sanitation,  Health  and  Nutrition,  Education,  Infrastructure provided  road  connectivity  to  all  the  Tandas  having  250  and  above  population,  Agriculture (Agriculture  Investment  Support  Scheme  @  Rs.10,000  per  acre  per  year,  Rythubandhu  and Rythubeema  -  Rs.5.00  lakhs  insurance),  Social  Security  (Aasara  Pensions  @  Rs.2016  to  Old Age  Pensioners  and  Widow  Pensioners  and  Rs.3016  to  Physical  Handicapped  Pensioners), Kalyanalaxmi  Scheme  -  Rs.1,00,116  for  bridal  family  at  the  time  of  marriage  and  Poverty Reduction,  have  been  considered  to  be  critical  for  the  wholistic  development    of  the  Gram Panchayat.  Thus Tandas declared as Gram Panchayats will be face-lifted.  Further, due priority is being given for all round development of all the Tandas in the State of Telangana.
3. Tribal Development Department, Government  of Maharashtra has intimated that Vasantrao  Naik  Tada  /  Vasti  Sudhar  Yojana  is  being  implemented  by  the  Government  of Maharashtra since 2003 for the development of Tandas and Vastis of Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (Lambani caste is included in VJNT) Under Yasantrao Naik Tada / Vasti Sudhar Yojana funds are sanctioned on the criteria of population for providing basic amenities like electrification, drinking water, internal roads, drains, toilets, community hall / libraries, and road connected  to  the  main  road  are  sanctioned  through  this  scheme.  There  is  no  provision  for complete modernization in big way of Tandas/Vastis in this scheme.
4. Government of Andhra Pradesh has not conveyed any specific information in the matter.

| Year    | Grant released   | No of works/ Programmes Undertaken   | No of works/ Programmes Undertaken   | No of works/ Programmes Undertaken    |
|---------|------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Year    | Grant released   | Community Halls/ School Buildings    | CC roads/ CC Drains                  | Awareness, Training/ Programme/others |
| 2014-15 | 75.00Cr          | 230                                  | 257                                  | 150                                   |
| 2015-16 | 87.00Cr          | 214                                  | 250                                  | 165                                   |
| 2016-17 | 90.00Cr          | 184                                  | 349                                  | 200                                   |
| 2017-18 | 85.00Cr          | 140                                  | 482                                  | 220                                   |
| 2018-19 | 96.60Cr          | 108                                  | 597                                  | 270                                   |