Lok Sabha Question No. 2457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-01
Subject: COVID-19 on Tribal Communities
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2457

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 01/08/2022

## COVID-19 ON TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

## 2457. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  an  assessment  of  the  impact  of  COVID-19  on  tribal communities?
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the tribal population and district affected by COVID-19 in the State of Karnataka?
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the measures undertaken by the Government to address problems faced by tribal communities because of COVID-19 in Karnataka?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the sectoral Ministry on all issues related to public  health  and  matters  relating  to  epidemics  including  tribal  areas.   As  per  information provided by MoHFW, during covid various interventions were taken for management of covid as indicated below:
- (i). States/UTs are being provided required technical and financial assistance for strengthening of their healthcare system, including management of the COVID-19 public health challenge, from time to time.
- (ii). Under the India COVID19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package (COVID  Package),  States/UTs  have  been  provided  financial  support,  besides  the  supply  of essential materials such as PPEs, N95 masks, ventilators, etc from MoHFW.
- (iii).  A  Scheme  on  'India  Covid-19  Emergency  Response  and  Health  Systems  Preparedness Package - Phase-II' (ECRP-Phase-II) during 2021-22 was approved by the Cabinet on 8.07.2021 for an amount of Rs. 23,123 crores, to be implemented in 9 months from 1st July, 2021 to 31st March, 2022. The Scheme is aimed to prevent, detect and respond to the continuing threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national health systems for preparedness in India. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector (CS) components.
- (iv). Support is provided to the States for provision for establishing District Pediatric Units (42 or 32  bedded  units  including  Oxygen  Supported  beds  and  ICU  beds)  in  all  the  Districts  of  the Country including the Districts with predominantly tribal population.

(v).  Support is extended to create per-fabricated structures for establishing 6 bedded units at Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres and 20 bedded units at Community Health Centres for meeting the requirement of hospital beds in rural, peri-urban and tribal areas.

(vi).   Vaccination drive had been intensified across the country to safeguard the citizen from the fatality  of  COVID  including  tribal  people.   More  than  200  cr  vaccination  doses  have  been provided.

(vii).   An  amount  of  Rs.  3832  crore  was  release  to  States  during  2020-21  as  Scheduled  Tribe Component (STC). Further, an amount of Rs. 4260.20 crore has been earmarked as STC during 2021-22.

During Covid, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), actively coordinated with the officers in State Tribal  Welfare  Department,  to  assess  the  preventive  and  curative  needs  to  curb  the  spread  of COVID-19  among  tribal  communities  and  extend helping hand in meeting the urgent requirement in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family  Welfare. Various interventions under different schemes of MoTA and Government of India are listed as under.

(i).  During 2020-21, Ministry of Tribal Affairs provided funds to the tune of Rs. 5476.01 crore for various development activities including education, health, and livelihood. State Governments were advised to include proposals for meeting health related urgent requirements in view of COVID-19 in the annual plan under Article 275(1) Grants for the year 2021-22.

(ii).   The PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMJKAY) was announced in March 2020, to reach out  to  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  with  food  and  money  in  hands,  so  that  they  do  not  face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs. An additional   allocation of 5kg of food grains (wheat / rice), free of cost to around 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries including tribal people.

(iii). Under POSHAN Abhiyaan Jan Andolan, or peoples' movement for improving nutrition by  Ministry  of  WCD,  MOTA  is  a  key  partner  Ministry.  During  the  recently  held  Poshan Pakhwada  in  March  2022,  one  of  the  key  thematic  areas  was  focus  on  traditional  food  for healthy mother and child, especially in tribal areas. To generate greater awareness on the same, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs focused on EMRS schools by conducting activities to sensitize children  on  dietary  changes,  encouraging  locally  available  foods,  conducting  awareness programs  on  POSHAN  in  schools  and  through  parent  teacher  interaction,  sensitizing  about traditional plants that help in nutrition gain, developing nutri-gardens in EMRS schools etc.

Government of Karnataka has taken measures to address problems faced by tribal communities because of COVID-19 in Karnataka. Details of such measures are below.

## Community Engagement and Social Awareness by Gram Panchayats in respect of COVID19 pandemic:

-  IEC  activities  for  sanitation  and  hygiene  were  conducted  with   special  attention  for PVTGs and forest  based  tribes.  Local  resources  like  loud  speakers  mounted  on  autos, vans  and  other  transport  vehicles  were  used  to  spread  COVID  19  awareness.  Grama panchayth officials and Asha workers also visited the colonies.
-  Dedicated Whatsapp groups of tribal leaders & youths were created to raise awareness about testing, vaccination, medicines, hygiene, sanitation and social distancing etc.
-  Participation  of  resource  persons  from  Health  Department,  Tribal  Welfare Department, District Administration, District In charge Minister, Local MLA's  and  Political representatives were ensured for sensitization of communities
-  24 X 7 helpline in district control room, Taluk and Gram Panchayat level

## Covid-19 testing and timely report:-

RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Detection Test (RADT) are conducted at door steps using dedicated mobile health team which is attached to near by PHCs along with Asha workers and Anganwadi workers helping to identify the symptomatic  and asymptomatic PVTGs.

## Curative Interventions:-

-  Supply  covid-19  Medical  kits  to  the  Jenu  Kurubas,  Koraga,  Soligas  and  other  forest dwelling tribes.
-  Covid-19 positive  patients are shifted to nearby dedicated Covid care centres according to screening of the patients and  treatment given. At Covid care centre all the facilities of N95  Mask,  Hand  Sanitizer,  Fingertip  Pulse  Oximeter,  Digital  Thermometer,  Steam Vaporiser, Spirometer, Paracetamol, Betadine for mouth wash and gargle, Multivitamin Tablets, gloves, soaps, detergent powder etc.
-  Special  Covid  care  centers  opened  by  District  Administration  at  EMRS  and  Ashrama schools. Special attention given to PVTGs and forest dwelling tribes.
-  8  Mobile  Health  Units  have  been  deputed  to  haadis  to  help  identify  the  COVID-19 symptomatic  and asymptomatic patients among PVTGs and forest dwelling tribes.

## COVID-19 Vaccination measures:

-  Special vaccination drive for PVTGs and Other Forest Dwelling Tribes has been taken up by dedicated team including Anganwadi/ Asha workers  on the spot COWIN registration and vaccination done.
-  The  Vaccine  Hesitancy  among  the  forest  dwelling  tribes,  including  Jenu  kuruba  & Koraga  (PVTGs  in  Karnataka)  was  mitigated  through  discussions  with  tribal  leaders regarding importance of vaccination. Things are now in place for vaccinating the tribals mainly Jenu Kurubas, Koraga, Soligas and other forest dwelling tribes.
-  The district  administration  has  converted  the  Tribal  Ashrama  Schools  into  Vaccination Centres as it is easier to cover the Haadis (hamlets).

## Other measures to ensure health & nutrition:

-  Nutrition  program:To  improve  the  health  condition  under  nutrition  food  scheme, PVTG  and  Other  Forest  Dwelling  Tribes  families  are  provided  with  supplementary nutrition through Anganwadi workers 6 times a year along with PDS ration:
-  Women and Child Department is providing food kits to malnourished children, lactating and pregnant women belonging to the PVTGs and also distributing of food grains for the student of Asharama Schools who have studied in 2020-21 academic year.

|   Sl.No. | Items                 | Quantity   |
|----------|-----------------------|------------|
|        1 | Rice                  | 8 Kgs      |
|        2 | Turdal                | 3 Kgs      |
|        3 | Bengalgram            | 1 Kg       |
|        4 | Groundnut seed        | 1 Kg       |
|        5 | Alasande gram         | 1 Kg       |
|        6 | Horse gram            | 1 Kg       |
|        7 | Greengram             | 1 Kg       |
|        8 | Sugar                 | 1 Kg       |
|        9 | Jaggery               | 1 Kg       |
|       10 | Egg                   | 30 No's    |
|       11 | Cooking oil (saffola) | 2 ltrs     |
|       12 | Nandini ghee          | ½ Kg       |

| Sl. No.   | Community                     |   No. of Families |   Expenditure for one time (Rs. in lakhs) |
|-----------|-------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Jenukuruba                    |             11858 |                                    199.61 |
| 2.        | Koraga                        |              3843 |                                     66.56 |
| 3.        | Other Forest Dwelling Tribes. |             30817 |                                    524.72 |
|           | Total                         |             46518 |                                    790.89 |

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