Lok Sabha Question No. 3954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Tribal Population
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Anto  Antony, Pallab Lochan Das

## 3954 .

## TRIBAL POPULATION

## SHRI ANTO ANTONY: SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any statistics regarding number of tribal population in the State of Kerala;

- (b) if so, the details of number of tribal population in the State of Kerala during the last three years, Year/ districtwise;
- (c) whether the Government has any statistics regarding number of children from tribal areas who have completed 10th standard during the last three years, district-wise in the State of Kerala;
- (d) whether the Government has any special scheme to provide education to children from tribal areas and if so, the details and amount spent for this purpose during the last three years, year-wise;
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to provide higher education to the children from tribal areas, details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government have received any proposal from the Assam Government for establishment of Centre for Research in Tribal Health (CRTH) and Centre for Research and Advance Planning for Tribals (CRAPT); if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the details of various programmes undertaken by the Government for the coverage of tribal population of Assam under various schemes and intiatives taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): As per Census 2011, the population of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Kerala is 4,84,839. District-wise population of STs in Kerala as per Census 2011 is given at Annexure-I.

(c): As provided by the Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala, district-wise number of students from tribal areas who have completed 10 th Standard in last two years is given at Annexure-II .

(d) & (e): Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing following schemes for providing education to ST students in the country:

-  Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
-  Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students
-  Post Matric Scholarship to ST students
-  National Overseas Scholarship for ST Candidates
-  National Fellowship &Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students
- o National Scholarship- (Top class) Scheme [Graduate level]
- o National Fellowship for ST students
-  Grant-in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes

The fund released under these schemes during the last three years are given at Annexure - III. Brief details of the schemes are given at Annexure - IV .

Further, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education also provides funds under Tribal Sub Plan for the higher education of the ST students.

(f): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not received any proposal from the Government of Assam for establishment of Centre  for  Research  in  Tribal  Health  (CRTH)  and  Centre  for  Research  and  Advance  Planning  for  Tribals (CRAPT).

(g): The  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented  by the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs for  the socio-economic development and welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the country including Assam are given at Annexure - IV .

Besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 40 Central Ministries / Departments have been obligated by NITI Aayog for earmarking  in  the  range  of  4.3  to  17.5  percent  of  their  total  Scheme  allocation  every  year  as  Tribal  Sub Plan(TSP)/Scheduled Tribe Component(STC) funds for tribal development. TSP funds are spent by different Central Ministries / Departments under their schemes for various development projects relating to education, health,  agriculture,  irrigation,  roads,  housing,  drinking  water,  electrification,  employment  generation,  skill development, etc.  for  accelerated  socio-economic  development  of  Scheduled  Tribes  in  the  country  including Assam.

Annexure-I referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3954 for 28.03.2022 by SHRI ANTO ANTONY and SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS regarding 'Tribal Population'

## District-wise population of STs in Kerala as per Census 2011

| District           | ST Population   |
|--------------------|-----------------|
| Wayanad            | 1,51,443        |
| Idukki             | 55,815          |
| Palakkad           | 48,972          |
| Kasaragod          | 48,857          |
| Kannur             | 41,371          |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 26,759          |
| Malappuram         | 22,990          |
| Kottayam           | 21,972          |
| Ernakulam          | 16,559          |
| Kozhikode          | 15,228          |
| Kollam             | 10,761          |
| Thrissur           | 9,430           |
| Pathanamthitta     | 8,108           |
| Alappuzha          | 6,574           |

Annexure - II referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3954 for 28.03.2022 by SHRI ANTO ANTONY and SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS regarding 'Tribal Population'

District-wise Number of children from tribal areas in the State of Kerala who have completed 10 th  standard in last two years

| District           |   2020 |   2021 |
|--------------------|--------|--------|
| Wayanad            |   2009 |   2287 |
| Idukki             |    656 |    595 |
| Palakkad           |    750 |    746 |
| Kasargoad          |   1116 |   1099 |
| Kannur             |    551 |    636 |
| Thiruvananthapuram |    313 |    282 |
| Malappuram         |    254 |    309 |
| Kottayam           |    272 |    289 |
| Ernakulam          |    188 |    203 |
| Kozhikode          |    199 |    183 |
| Kollam             |     86 |    101 |
| Thrissur           |    144 |    153 |
| Pathanamthitta     |     70 |     97 |
| Alappuzha          |     53 |     48 |

Annexure - III referred to in reply to parts (d) & (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3954 for 28.03.2022 by SHRI ANTO ANTONY and SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS regarding 'Tribal Population'

Fund released by Ministry of Tribal Affairs for education under its schemes during the years 2018-19 to 2020-21

(Rs. in lakh)

| Name of the Scheme                                                   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   | Fund Released   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|                                                                      | 2018-19         | 2019-20         | 2020-21         |
| Eklavya Model Residential School                                     | 71096.76*       | 145424.38*      | 69802.53        |
| Post-matric scholarship scheme for ST students                       | 164698.00       | 186264.75       | 182908.02       |
| Pre-matric scholarship scheme for ST students                        | 31150.00        | 43999.00        | 24890.24        |
| National Scholarship Scheme (Top Class)                              | 1789            | 1900            | 2930            |
| National Fellowship for ST students                                  | 8209            | 8100            | 9070            |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST Candidates                      | 200             | 200             | 476             |
| Grant-in-aid to voluntary organizations working for welfare of STs # | 9543.84         | 8020.63         | 4725.62         |

Annexure - IV referred to in reply to parts (d) & (e) and (g) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3954 for  28.03.2022  by  SHRI  ANTO  ANTONY  and  SHRI  PALLAB  LOCHAN  DAS  regarding  'Tribal Population'

## Brief details of Schemes/Programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the country:

(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  (EMRSs): 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 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. 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.  In  terms  of  the  aforesaid  Budget announcement, a scheme was formulated and the same was appraised and approved by EFC. 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) Pre-Matric Scholarship 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.

(v) 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/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.

(vi)  National  Overseas  Scholarship  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.

## (vii) 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. (Presently, @Rs.25,000/for JRF and @Rs.28,000/- for SRF).

(viii)  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,  Vocational  Training Centres (VTCs), 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 analysed Mission Antyodaya data collated by Ministry of Rural Development and has identified 36,428 villages with 50% tribal population and 500 STs to be covered under PMAAGY in consultation with the States.  The  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. For PMAAGY, 20.38 lakh per village as 'Gap-filling' for approved activities including administrative expenses will be provided by the Ministry.

(ix)  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  non-conventional  sources  of energy for lighting purpose, social security or any other innovative  activity meant for the  comprehensive socioeconomic development of PVTGs.

(x) Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiye 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) Monitoring, Evaluation, Survey and Social Audit (MESSA): The Ministry is responsible for monitoring of Central and State Schedule Tribe Component as per framework and mechanism designed by NITI Aayog. Ministry has initiated end to end digitization of data bases of various schemes and has developed scheme specific portals.  Still  there  is  scope  for  strengthening  the  monitoring  and  evaluation  framework  through  digital  and physical verification of the projects. Ministry is revamping the scheme with the establishment of a Central PMU consisting of experts to monitor the scheme and non-scheme initiatives of the ministry, which will coordinate with State level PMUs.

(xii)  Support  to  National/State  Scheduled  Tribes  Finance  and  Development  Corporation  (NSTFDC)  / Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF - ST): NSTFDC was started by the Ministry in 2001 to extend financial assistance at concessional rates to Scheduled Tribes Individuals / Self Help Groups, Co-operative society for undertaking income generation activities. The authorized share capital of NSTFDC stands at 750.00 crore, which has already been provided completely by Government. Now, the Scheme of 'VCF-ST' has been conceptualized by the Ministry with a corpus fund of 50.00 crore for a period of five years during 2021-26 for promoting entrepreneurship/start-up projects by ST youth. It is proposed that guidelines similar to the scheme of 'Venture Capital for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes' be adopted for the scheme. It is envisioned that NSTFDC will provide technical support to the agency managing the VCF-ST.

(xiii) 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-inaid 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.

(xiv) 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 (CoE). It is envisaged that CoEs should play an important role in building knowledge bank to complement dedicated Activities of the Ministry.

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