Lok Sabha Question No. 1747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Welfare of STs in Gujarat
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †1747

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 13/02/2023

## WELFARE OF STs IN GUJARAT

†1747. SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the schemes implemented bythe Government for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes during the last three years;
- (b) the district-wise details of the beneficiaries including Dahod district of Gujarat; and
- (c) the scheme likely to be formulated by the Government to fully utilize the budget allocated for  the  welfare  of  the  Scheduled  Tribes  and  to  ensurethat  its  benefit  may  reach  the marginalized people?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (c): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  various  schemes/programmes  for welfare of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the country. Details of major schemes/programmes implemented by the Ministry are given at Annexure . The Ministry does not maintain districtwise beneficiary details.

Government has revamped the existing Scheme of 'Special Central Assistance toTribal SubScheme  (SCA  to  TSS)  with  nomenclature  'Pradhan  Mantri  Adi  Adarsh  GramYojana (PMAAGY)', for implementation during 2021-22 to 2025-26, which aims atcomprehensive development of 36,428 villages having at least 50% ST population and 500 STs across States / UTs covering about4.22 crore tribal population (About 40% of the total Tribal Population).

The scheme envisions  to  mitigate  gaps  prominently  in  8  sectors  of  development  viz.  Road connectivity  (Internal  and  Intervillage  /block),  Telecom  connectivity  (Mobile  /internet), School, Anganwadi Centres, Health Sub-Centre, Drinking water facility, Drainage and solid waste management. A sum of ₹20.38 lakh per village as 'Gap-filling' has been provisioned for approved activities including administrative expenses under PMAAGY. Besides States / UTs  are  encouraged  for  convergence  of  resources  as  Central  /  State  Tribal  Sub  Plan    / ScheduledTribeComponent  funds  and  other  financial  resources  available  with  them  for saturation of gaps  in the villages identified under PMAAGY.

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. † 1747 for 13.02.2023 by SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR regarding 'WELFARE OF STS IN GUJARAT'

## Brief  details  of  major  schemes/programmes  being  implemented  by  the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the country:

(i) Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme    (SCA    to TSS)/Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): 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,  minor  infrastructure,  etc.  to  bridge  the  gap  between  Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others as a critical gap filling measure. The Scheme has been revamped as Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY).

The Ministry has analyzed Mission Antyodaya data collated by Ministry of Rural Development and has identified 36,428 villages with 50% ST population and 500 STs  to  be  covered  under  PMAAGY.   Relevant  schemes  of  different  Central Ministries have been identified based on Tribal Sub Plan allocation. States would also be encouraged to supplement with State TSP funds, District Mineral Funds (DMF) and Finance Commission grants. Under PMAAGY, 20.38 lakh per village as 'Gap-filling' for approved activities including administrative expenses will be provided by the Ministry.

(ii)  Grants  under  Article  275(1)  of  the  Constitution :  Under  the  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   State 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.

(iii)  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    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.

(iv)  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,  nonresidential schools, hostels, mobile dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, etc.

(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/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand  and  Jammu  and  Kashmir  where  it  is  90:10.  For  UTs  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.  Compulsory  fees  charged  by  educational  institutions  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.  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/UT  of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.

(vii) National Overseas Scholarships for ST Candidates: 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  in prescribed courses in any of the 246 institutions of excellence across the country like  IITs,  AIIMS,  IIMs,  NIITs,  etc.  identified  by  the  Ministry.  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)  National  Fellowship  for  ST  students: 750  fellowships  are  provided  to  ST students  each  year  for  pursing  higher  studies  in  India  for  MPhil  and  PhD. Fellowship is granted as per UGC norms.

(ix)  Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRS): Eklavya  Model  Residential Schools (EMRSs) were introduced in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education exclusively to ST children with an objective to provide quality middle and highlevel  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. In the Union Budget of 2018-19,  Government  announced  that  every  block  with  more  than  50%  ST population  and  at  least  20,000  ST  persons  will  be  eligible  to  have  an  Eklavya Model  Residential  School.  A  total  number  of  740  EMRSs  are  scheduled  to  be established. 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.

(x)  Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): Ministry of Tribal Affairs  has  been  implementing  a  Scheme  'Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Support Price and Development of Value Chain for  MFP  (MSP for MFP)' through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), since 2011 with the objective of providing safety net to ST MFP gatherers.

Ministry is implementing another scheme 'Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products' with 100 % grant to TRIFED and State Forest Development  Corporations  (SDCs)  for  development  and  marketing  of  tribal products.

PMJVM has been conceptualized with the merger of the above two Schemes i.e. 'MSP  for  MFP'  and  'Institutional  Support  for  Development  and  Marketing  of Tribal Products'. PMJVM seeks to achieve livelihood driven tribal development through quality  input,  technology,  credit  and  better  marketing  access  etc.  in  the next five years.

(xi) Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Ministry extends support to the  State  Governments  through  the  Scheme  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. To preserve tribal art and culture, financial assistance is provided to TRI's to carry out various activities to preserve and promote tribal culture and heritage across the country through research and documentation,  maintenance  and  preservation  of  art  &  artefacts,  setting  up  of tribal  museum,  exchange  visits  for  the  tribals  to  other  parts  of  the  State, organizing tribal festivals etc. Funding under this Scheme is 100% grant-in-aid by the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  to  the  TRIs  on  need  basis  with  the  approval  of APEX Committee. TRIs prepare proposal  and  detailed  action  plan  for  the  year along  with  budgetary  requirement  and  submit  it  to  the  Ministry  through  State Tribal  Welfare  Department.  Within  the  set  of  TRIs,  there  are  cultural  museum, library, training centre, research wing etc.

(xii) Tribal   Festivals,   Research   Information   and  Mass   Education : Through the scheme, 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). It is envisaged that CoEs should play an important role in building knowledge bank to complement dedicated Activities of the Ministry.

*****