Lok Sabha Question No. 1305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Tribes
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1305

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR SCHEDULED TRIBES

## 1305. SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the details of the schemes currently being implemented by the Government for the welfare and integrated social development of Scheduled Tribes including those living in left wing extremist dominated areas of the country including Telangana;
- (b) whether the Government has allocated adequate funds under the said schemes/programmes during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) if so the details thereof State/UT-wise including Telangana; and
- (d)  the details of the Mechanism for monitoring the utilization of funds under the said schemes/ programmes?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Government  is  implementing  Tribal  Sub-Plan  (TSP)/Schedule  Tribe  Component  (STC)/Development Action Plan for Development of STs (DAPSTs) for overall development of tribal people across the country. Besides, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 40 Central Ministries / Departments have been obligated by NITI Aayog for  earmarking  certain  percentage  of  their  total  Scheme  allocation  every  year  as  STC  funds  for  tribal development.  STC  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 addition, Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides funds under its schemes to supplement the efforts of tribal development by  other Ministries/Departments. The details of the schemes presently being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the integrated socio-economic development and welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in the country including in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected areas are given at Annexure- I .

As informed by Ministry of Home Affairs, to address the left-wing extremism holistically, a National Policy & Action Plan was promulgated in 2015. The Development is one of the most important prong of the Policy. Following  the  Policy,  several  development  schemes  are  being  implemented  specifically  in  the  Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas in addition to the flagship schemes of Government of India. Special thrust is on  expansion  of  road  network,  improvement  in  telecom  connectivity,  education,  skill  development  and financial inclusion.

Few of the specific interventions for LWE affected areas through various Ministries are as under: -

Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) : This scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) since Feb, 2009 for improving road connectivity in 34 most LWE districts. 5,361 km roads were sanctioned under the scheme, out of which 5,011 km roads have been completed.

Road  Connectivity  Project  for  LWE  affected  Areas  (RRP-II) :  This  scheme  is  being  implemented  by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) since 2016-17 with an outlay of Rs. 11,725 crore. 10,231 km (1030 road & 463 bridges) was sanctioned till date, out of which 4,524 km length (263 roads & 106 bridges) have been completed.

Skill Development Scheme in 47 LWE affected :  The scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) since 2011 for establishment of 01 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in each of 47 districts and 02 Skill Development Centers (SDCs) in each of 34 districts, with an estimated cost of Rs. 407.85 crore. So far, construction of 29 ITIs and 56 SDCs have been completed.

## Installation of Mobile Towers in the LWE affected districts:

Phase-I : The scheme is being implemented by Department of Telecommunications. In the first phase, 2343 mobile towers have been installed in the LWE affected States with a cost of Rs. 4080.78 crore.

Phase-II : Government has approved for installation of 4072 mobile towers in LWE affected districts in PhaseII involving an expenditure of Rs. 7330 crore.

Financial  Inclusion :  -  For  Financial  inclusion  1236  Bank  Branches,  1077  ATMs,  14230  Banking Correspondents & 1789 Post Offices have been opened in last 6 years between 01.04.2015 to 31.03.2021.

Special Central Assistance (SCA) : - Under SCA, funds are provided to the most LWE Affected Districts to fill critical gaps in Public Infrastructure & Services. Till now Rs.2698.24 crore have been released to the most LWE Affected Districts in last 05 years.

(b)  &(c)  Budgetary  allocation  for  the  welfare  of  Scheduled  Tribes  (STC/TSP  funds)  under  various schemes/programmes of obligated Central Ministries/Departments has increased from Rs 37802.94 crore in financial year 2018-19 to Rs. 78256.31 crore in 2021-22. There is no specific State-wise allocation under the schemes. However, Details of funds released by obligated Central Ministries / Departments (including Ministry of  Tribal  Affairs)  under  various  schemes/programmes  under  STC/TSP  during  last  three  years  and  current financial year are given at Annexure II.

- (d) The mechanism for monitoring the utilization of funds put in place is as detailed below: -
- i. Release of funds to States/UTs in the scheme is made through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) platform.
- ii. Utilization Certificates are insisted upon as a pre-requisite for further release of funds as per the norms of GFR.
- iii. Progress reports regarding the status of implementation of scheme is obtained.
- iv. Officers while visiting States/UTs also ascertain the progress of implementation of the scheme.
- v. Meetings/  Conferences  are  convened  at  the  Central  level  with  State  officials  for  ensuring  timely submission of proposals, speeding up of implementation of the scheme, and reviewing the physical and financial progress.
- vi. Scheme/programme-wise progress and utilization of funds are also monitored through dedicated online portals and performance dashboard.
- vii. Ministry of Tribal Affairs has developed STC MIS Portal with web address: https://stcmis.gov.in for monitoring  of  Tribal  Sub-Plan  (TSP)  /  Schedule  Tribe  Component  (STC)  funds  of  obligated Ministries/Departments.
- viii. Besides, evaluation of the schemes is conducted from time to time.

Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1305 for 06.12.2021 by  SHRI  NAMA  NAGESWARA  RAO  regarding  'WELFARE  SCHEMES  FOR  SCHEDULED TRIBES'

## 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  (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. 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)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. 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.

- (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 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).
- (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  non-conventional  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 MultiState 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  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 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.

(xv) 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.

Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (b)&(c)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1305  for 06.12.2021  by  SHRI  NAMA  NAGESWARA  RAO  regarding  'WELFARE  SCHEMES  FOR SCHEDULED TRIBES'

TSP fund released # to State Governments by obligated Central Ministries/Departments from 2018-19 to 2021-22 (as on 18/11/2021)

(Rs. in Crore)

|   SN | State/UT                          |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 (As on 18/11/2021) |
|------|-----------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------------------------|
|    1 | ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR               |     12.16 |      2.85 |     16.7  |                        25.96 |
|    2 | ANDHRA PRADESH                    |    943.81 |    991.2  |    785.39 |                       406.06 |
|    3 | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                 |    691.12 |    930.8  |   1100.61 |                       552.78 |
|    4 | ASSAM                             |   1143.07 |   1811.21 |   1224.78 |                       697.19 |
|    5 | BIHAR                             |    496.44 |    737.61 |    728.57 |                      2022.97 |
|    6 | CHANDIGARH                        |      7.3  |     13.76 |      9.87 |                         1.79 |
|    7 | CHHATTISGARH                      |   1921.63 |   2094.34 |   1885.03 |                      2127.07 |
|    8 | DADRA& NAGAR HAVELI and DAMAN&DIU |     43.26 |     61.1  |     80.83 |                         8.88 |
|    9 | DELHI                             |   2010.47 |   2046.56 |   3919.13 |                      3860.24 |
|   10 | GOA                               |     27.97 |     37.57 |     27.39 |                        12.51 |
|   11 | GUJARAT                           |   1465.35 |   1840.58 |   1951.39 |                      1889.22 |
|   12 | HARYANA                           |     62.07 |     28.23 |     39.84 |                        20.31 |
|   13 | HIMACHAL PRADESH                  |    211.95 |    381.08 |    219.08 |                       168.44 |
|   14 | JAMMU AND KASHMIR                 |    678.82 |    617.05 |    319.07 |                       210.37 |
|   15 | JHARKHAND                         |   1631.21 |   2039    |   1410.17 |                      1246.92 |
|   16 | KARNATAKA                         |    677.48 |   1034.19 |    733.93 |                      1196.56 |
|   17 | KERALA                            |    223.2  |    154.3  |    210.59 |                       515.94 |
|   18 | LAKSHADWEEP                       |      3.21 |      8.38 |      7.79 |                         2.15 |
|   19 | LADAKH                            |      0    |      0.14 |     19.25 |                        32.54 |
|   20 | MADHYA PRADESH                    |   3425.89 |   4305.44 |   4324.06 |                      6520.89 |
|   21 | MAHARASHTRA                       |   2469.98 |   4146.78 |   6380.55 |                      3195.71 |
|   22 | MANIPUR                           |    419.2  |    544.33 |    566.4  |                       232    |
|   23 | MEGHALAYA                         |    598.26 |    747.05 |    935.03 |                       865.29 |
|   24 | MIZORAM                           |    604.48 |    781.48 |    751.57 |                       470.45 |
|   25 | NAGALAND                          |    746.74 |    886.86 |   1089.12 |                       466.05 |
|   26 | ODISHA                            |   2416.94 |   3448.25 |   3558.91 |                      3910.02 |
|   27 | PUDUCHERRY                        |      3.6  |      4.37 |      2.78 |                         2.72 |
|   28 | PUNJAB                            |     59.18 |    260.87 |    220.39 |                       127.27 |
|   29 | RAJASTHAN                         |   2116.06 |   2714.99 |   2533.97 |                      5000.53 |
|   30 | SIKKIM                            |    134.32 |    170.18 |    103.9  |                        64.7  |
|   31 | TAMIL NADU                        |    287.71 |    528.92 |    608.55 |                       579.82 |
|   32 | TELANGANA                         |    796.88 |   1282.03 |    816.12 |                      4338.26 |
|   33 | TRIPURA                           |    423.38 |    583.38 |    441.58 |                      1054.77 |
|   34 | UTTAR PRADESH                     |    669.25 |    984.96 |   1114.95 |                      1542.62 |
|   35 | UTTARAKHAND                       |    171.72 |    162.69 |    240.38 |                       168.96 |
|   36 | WEST BENGAL                       |   1501.01 |   1785.74 |   1291.38 |                      1822.43 |

Note: -Source-STCMIS (Portal (As on 18/11/2021)

# - Total Fund released to the State Government & Other Agencies in the State.

* The funds released to Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have been added.