Lok Sabha Question No. 3339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Living Condition of Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Bholanath (B.P. Saroj)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3339

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2021

## LIVING CONDITION OF TRIBALS

## †3339. SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the living conditions of the tribals have not improved during the last several years in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the benefits of schemes meant for tribals have not reached them as per planned;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the corrective measures taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f)  the  system  formulated  for  effective  implementation  of  various  schemes  for  socio-economic development of tribals in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  Data  pertaining  to  decennial  Census,  management  information  system,  sample  surveys conducted by different Ministries / Departments of Government of India, reveal that over the years there have been considerable improvements in living conditions of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), for example, literacy rate for STs has improved from 47.1% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. Further, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report (July  2018  -  June  2019)  reveals  that  literacy  rate  for  STs  increased  to 69.4%. According  to  Unified  District  Information  System  for  Education  (UDISE)  Plus  reports  published  by Ministry of Education, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for ST students at Senior Secondary (classes IXX) level has increased from 62.4% in 2012-13 to 76.7% in 2019-20. Transition rate of ST students from Secondary to higher secondary (X to XI) level has increased to 62.7 in 2018-19 from 57.0 in 2015-16. As per National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in respect of Scheduled Tribes, Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 62.1 (2005-06) to 44.4 (201516); Under Five Mortality Rate has declined from 95.7 (2005-06) to 57.2 (2015-16), and Institutional Delivery  has  increased  from  17.7%  in  2005-06  to  68.0  %  in  2015-16.  Further,  percentage  of Underweight (weight-for age) ST children under age five years has declined from 54.5 in 2005-06 to 45.3 in 2015-16.  Erstwhile Planning Commission estimated that percentage of ST people living below the  poverty  line  in  rural  areas  has  declined  from  62.3%  in  2004-05  to  45.3%  in  2011-12.  Also, percentage of ST people living below the poverty line in urban areas has declined from 35.5% in 200405 to 24.1% in 2011-12. However, there are still gaps in human development indicators between STs and all India population.

(e) to (f): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken various steps for monitoring and effective implementation of schemes / programmes for the development of the ST population. These include:-

-  Release of funds to States under the schemes are made through PFMS platform.
-  Utilization  Certificates  are  insisted  upon  as  a  pre-requisite  for  further  release  of  funds  as  per provisions of GFR.
-  Progress reports regarding the status of implementation of schemes are obtained.
-  During  Project  Appraisal  Committee  (PAC)  meetings  the  information  on  the  progress  on implementation  of  previous  sanctioned  projects  is  discussed  in  details  and  updated  status  is ascertained from the State Government officials.
-  Review Meetings/ Conferences are convened at the Central level with State officials for ensuring timely submission of proposals, speeding up of implementation of the schemes/ programmes, and reviewing the physical and financial progress.
-  Mandatory Annual Inspection of NGO projects by District Authorities.
-  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  inter-alia  developed  an  online  portal  'ADIGRAMS'  to  ensure effective planning, management and implementation of five schemes/grants of Ministry of Tribal Affairs i.e., 'Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Scheme(SCA to TSS)', Conservation-cumDevelopment of PVTGs', 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price  (MSP) and Development  of  Value  Chain  for MFP (MSP  for MFPs', 'Institutional  Support  for  Development  and  Marketing  of  Tribal  Produce'  and  'Grant  under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution. The portal is meant to capture necessary data and information for monitoring of the schemes/grants.
-  For monitoring of Tribal Sub Plan(TSP) / Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) funds of Central Ministries / Departments, based on the framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog, an online monitoring system has been put in place with web address: https://stcmis.gov.in/. Further, nodal  officer  has  been  nominated  in  the  line  Ministries  /  Departments  for  coordination  and monitoring of TSP / STC funds.
-  NITI Aayog and Ministry of Tribal Affairs conduct evaluation studies of the schemes from time to time.

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