Lok Sabha Question No. 3255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Funds to North Eastern States
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 3255

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2021

## FUNDS TO NORTH EASTERN STATES

## †3255. SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of percentage of total tribal Budget allocated for  North-Eastern States during the  last five years;
- (b) the scheme-wise details of the funds released to various districts councils of North-Eastern States under the Sixth schedule during the last five years;
- (c)  the  details  of  works  done  by  various  district councils by the funds released for  this purpose;
- (d) the details of various schemes introduced by the Ministry along with details of various units and PSUs under the Ministry and their work profiles; and
- (e) whether two reports pertaining to provide tribal status to the tribes of Assam  have  been  presented  in 2012, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  The details of percentage of total Budget allocated for tribals under Central Sector and Centrally sponsored Schemes of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for North-Eastern States during the last five years are given at Annexure I.
- (b) & (c) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region provides funds to the State Government of Assam  under  Special  Development  Packages  (SDP)  for  Bodoland  Territorial  Council  (BTC);  Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC) and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) for various development projects.  Under Special Development Packages  65 projects costing Rs.749.63 crore has been sanctioned in the  Bodoland  Territorial  Council  (BTC) out  of  which  51 projects  costing  Rs.570.19  crore  have  been  completed. Further, 11 projects, costing Rs.170.82 crore has  been  sanctioned  in  the  Dima  Hasao  Autonomous  Territorial  Council  (DHATC)  and  25  projects costing Rs.235.88 crore have been sanctioned in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) under Special Development Packages.

During last 5 years, 2 projects i.e., Construction of School Building and Rice Area Expansion   amounting  to  Rs.  6.04   Crore  under  Community  Development  Programme  for  Chakmas Autonomous District Council, Kamalanagar, Lawngtlai District, Mizoram have also been sanctioned under  the Schemes of  North Eastern Council.

(d)  The  details  of  various  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Ministry of Tribal  Affairs  is  given  at Annexure II. There are four Organisations/units/PSUs under the Ministry namely National Commission for  Scheduled  Tribes  (NCST),  National  Scheduled  Tribes  Finance  and  Development  Corporation (NSTFDC), Tribal  Cooperative  Marketing  Development  Federation  of  India  Limited  (TRIFED)  and National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS). The details of these Organisations and their work profiles are given at Annexure III .

(e) The State Government of Assam vide their letter dated 12.1.2012 and 14.12.2012 sent ethnographic reports for inclusion in the list of STs for the communities (i) Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes and (ii) Tai Ahom and Chutiya respectively. The Government on 15.06.1999 and further amended on 25.06.2002 had laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists.  As per the modalities, only those proposals  which  have  been  recommended  and  justified  by  the  concerned  State  Government/  UT Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. All actions are taken as per these modalities.

Annexure I

Annexure I referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3255 for 09.08.2021  by  SHRI  NABA  KUMAR  SARANIA  regarding  'FUNDS  TO  NORTH  EASTERN STATES'

|   S.N. | Year    |   % of total scheme Budget allocation of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for tribals of North-Eastern States % of total scheme Budget allocation of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for tribals of North- Eastern States | % of total scheme Budget allocation of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for tribals of North-Eastern States % of total scheme Budget allocation of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for tribals of North- Eastern States   |
|--------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | 2016-17 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9.35 | -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|      2 | 2017-18 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9.92 | 26.83                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      3 | 2018-19 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                               10.07 | 17.66                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      4 | 2019-20 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                               10.31 | 27.16                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|      5 | 2020-21 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                               10.21 | 27.14                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

## Annexure II  referred  in  reply  to  part  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  3255  for 09.08.2021  by  SHRI  NABA  KUMAR  SARANIA  regarding  'FUNDS  TO  NORTH  EASTERN STATES'

## Details of various schemes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

(i) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution : Under the programme of Proviso to Article 275(1) of  Constitution,  Grants  are  released  to  26  States,  having  ST  population  for  raising  the  level  of Administration in Scheduled Areas and for the welfare of tribal people. This is a Special Area Programme and 100% grants are provided to States. Funds are released to the   States Governments depending on the felt needs of ST population to bridge the gap in infrastructure activities in the fields of education, health, skill development, livelihood, drinking water, sanitation, etc.

(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)  of  the  Constitution.  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.

(iii) Grant-in Aid  to  Voluntary  Organizations  working  for  the  welfare  of  Scheduled  Tribes: Under the scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, the Ministry funds projects in the fields of Education and Health, covering residential schools, non-residential schools, hostels, mobile dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, etc.

(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 : The scheme is applicable to students who are studying in Classes IX -X.  Parental income from all sources should not be more 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. Scholarship is disbursed  through  the  State  Government/UT Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except North East and Hills States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UT's without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central Share.

(vi)  Post  Matric  Scholarship  to  ST  students: The  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  provide  financial assistance to the Scheduled   Tribe   students   studying   at   Post-matriculation or Post-secondary levels to enable them to complete their education.  Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. The tuition fee as fixed by the state fee regulatory committee is reimbursed and Scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study is paid. The Scheme is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UTs of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UT's without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central Share.

(vii) National Overseas Scholarships for ST Candidates for Studying Abroad: The Scheme provides for  financial  assistance  to  selected  students  to  pursue  Post  Graduation,  PhD  &  Post-Doctoral 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.

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

(a)National  Scholarship-(Top  class) Scheme [Graduate level]: The objective of  the  scheme  is  to encourage meritorious ST students for pursuing studies at degree and post degree level in designated top 246 Institutions, whose parental income is not more than Rs.6.00 lakh per annum. Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer.

(b) National Fellowship for ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide   fellowships   in   the   form   of   financial assistance to students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes for pursuing higher studies such as M.Phil and Ph.D. 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): Under scheme of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) 100% grants is provided to the State Governments  for  activities  related  to  education,  health,  sanitation,  water  supply,  livelihood,  skill development, Ashram Schools, Boys and Girls Hostels, Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), minor infrastructure, etc. to bridge the gap between Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others as a critical gap filling measure.

(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    nonconventional  sources  of energy for lighting purpose, social security or any other innovative  activity meant for the  comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs.

(xi)  Institutional  Support  for  Development  &  Marketing  of  Tribal  Products/Produce  (Central Sector  Scheme): The  Tribal  Cooperative  Marketing  Development  Federation  of  India  Limited (TRIFED) is a Multi State Cooperative Society set up in 1987 under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act,  1984  (now  the  Multi  State  Cooperative  Societies  Act,  2002)  which  functions  both  as  a  service provider and market developer for tribal products. It markets tribal products through the network of its retail outlets 'TRIBES INDIA' in the country. As a capacity builder, it also imparts training to Scheduled Tribe Artisans and Minor Forest Produce (MFP) gatherers.

(xii) Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP :  A Scheme 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP' was introduced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the year 2013-14, to provide much needed safety net and support to people belonging to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers whose very livelihood depends on collection and selling of MFP.

(xiii)Support   to   National/State   Scheduled   Tribes   Finance   and   Development   Corporations (NSTFDC/STFDCS): National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) is an apex organisation set up on 10.04.2001, exclusively for economic development of Scheduled Tribes. The  Corporation  continues  to  function  as  a  catalytic  agent  for  promoting  economic  development activities of STs by providing financial assistance at concessional rates of interest.

(xiv)Support   to   Tribal   Research   Institutes   (TRIs)  : Ministry  extends  support  to  the  State Governments through the Scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)' to set up new TRIs where it didn't exist and to strengthen functioning of existing TRIs to carry out its core responsibility towards Research & Documentations, Training and capacity building, promotion of rich tribal heritage etc.

(xv) Tribal  Festivals,  Research  Information  and Mass  Education : Through the scheme 'Tribal Festival,  Research  Information  and  Mass  Education',  promotion  of  rich  tribal  cultural  heritage, dissemination  of  information  and  creation  of  awareness  are  given  attention  to  which  includes organization of Tribal Craft & Food Festivals, Sports, Music, Dance & Photo Competitions, Science, Art &  Craft  Expos,  Workshops,  Seminars,  Production  of  documentary  films  by  the  Ministry  &  States, bringing out Publications thereby highlighting significant studies, documenting historical facets of tribal communities , achievements of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) & State departments besides other advertisements etc. at regular intervals. With a view to fill the gap of research studies on tribal issues, MoTA recognizes renowned NGOs, Research Institutes, Universities where expertise exist and which have already made a mark by carrying out pioneering research in the field of tribal cultures as Centre of Excellences (CoEs).

Annexure III referred in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3255 for 09.08.2021  by  SHRI  NABA  KUMAR  SARANIA  regarding  'FUNDS  TO  NORTH  EASTERN STATES'

## Details of Organisations working under the Ministry:

## 1. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was set up with effect from 19 th February, 2004 by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution, through the Commission (Eighty-ninth Amending) Act, 2003. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Commission have been conferred the rank of Union Cabinet Minister and Minister of State respectively, while the Members of the Commission have been given the rank of a Secretary to the Government of India. The main duties of the Commission are to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the working of such safeguards, and to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes. The Commission is vested with all the powers of a civil court trying a suit while investigation any matter of inquiring into any complaint relating to deprivation of rights and Safeguards of the Scheduled Tribes.

## 2. National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC)

National  Scheduled  Tribes  Finance  and  Development  (NSTFDC)  is  an  apex  organisation  set  up exclusively for economic development of Scheduled Tribes. This Corporation was incorporated as a Government company under Ministry of Tribal  Affairs  and  granted  license  under  Section  25  of  the Companies  Act,  1956  (now  Section  8  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013). It is managed  by  the Board of Directors with representation from  Central Govt., State Channelising  Agencies,  Industrial Development Bank of India(IDBI),  Tribal  Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) and  eminent  persons  representing  Scheduled  Tribes,  etc. The Corporation plays a leading role in economic upliftment of Scheduled Tribes by providing financial assistance at concessional rates of interest.

## 3. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), a Multi State Cooperative Society, was set up in 1987 under Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. TRIFED is functioning both as a service provider and market developer for tribal products. As a capacity builder, it also imparts training to ST Artisans and Minor Forest Produce (MFP) gatherers. TRIFED undertakes various activities under the following schemes:

- (i)  'Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/ Produce'.
- (ii) 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP.'

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides Grant-in-aid to TRIFED for implementation of both the schemes.

## 4. National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) :

National  Education  Society  for  Tribal  Students  (NESTS)  is  an  autonomous  organization  under  the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was established in 2019 to run and manage the Eklavya Model Residential Schools  (EMRSs)/  Eklavya  Model  Day  Boarding  Schools  (EMDBS)  and  Centres  of  Excellence  for Sports. NESTS shall be responsible for overall management and running of the schools under its ambit based on the guidelines formulated by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It shall do all acts and things necessary for or conducive to tribal education through the flagship intervention of Eklavya Schools.

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