Lok Sabha Question No. 2368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Living Condition of Tribes During Covid-19
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

2368. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  has  established  a  Covid response mechanism at the Central and State level for tribal communities to monitor and ameliorate Covid-19 and lock down impacts and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  made  an  assessment of  the  impact  of  Covid-19  and  the  lockdown  on  tribal communities and if so, the copy of the assessment report, the follow up actions taken and planned to be taken regarding those affected by Covid-19;
- (c) whether there has been considerable improvements in living conditions of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) during the pandemic period; if so, the details including the healthcare infrastructure in tribal regions; and
- (d) whether the Government has noticed that community living, poor quarantine facilities and struggle for livelihood are among the reasons cited for the wide spread of Covid-19 pandemic in tribal hamlets; if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2368

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 13/12/2021

## LIVING CONDITION OF TRIBES DURING COVID-19

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

(a)  &  (b):  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  is  closely  coordinating  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 consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Instructions were issued by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to all States/UTs to take prompt steps for preventing spread of covid -19. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken up the following proactive measures to mitigate its adverse effects on the tribal community:

- i. State Governments were requested to constitute a team of officers in tribal welfare department to assess the situation arising out of spread of COVID-19 in consultation with the District administration and attend to essential requirements on priority.
- ii. Guidelines on home isolation of mild /asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and SOP on preventive measures to be  followed  in  Entertainment  Parks  and  similar  places  to  contain  spread  of  COVID-19  issued  by  the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were circulated among States / UTs for adherence.
- iii. All States/UTS were requested to regularly assess the situation arising out of spread of COVID-19 in the tribal inhabited areas and ensure testing, availability of essential medicines, vaccination facilities. It was advised that for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), there should be a dedicated officer who can coordinate with the community leaders for any specific need as these communities are particularly vulnerable.
- iv. News items appearing in newspapers, social media and other specific issues in tribal areas were shared with the concerned States for ensuring quick action.
- v. NGOs  and  Centre  of  Excellence  (CoEs)  funded  by  MoTA  were  asked  to  provide  support  to  District administration for provision of preventive, curative and other requirements among tribal communities to the best of their capacity.
- vi. States were requested to conduct / intensify awareness campaign in the areas with significant tribal population to counter prevailing misconceptions among tribal communities regarding Covid testing and vaccination. It was requested to engage tribal
7. community leaders in such awareness campaign for easy dissemination of correct and scientifically researched information about Covid-19 among the tribal communities.
- vii. The Union Minister of Tribal  Affairs  provided  Rs  10  lakh from MP  LAD  fund  to  Bundu  Anumandal Hospital in Tamar for establishing 10 oxygen supported beds through District Administration.
- viii. State Tribal Welfare Departments were requested to ensure that livelihood activities of tribals do not hamper due to Covid.
- ix. The Ministry revised minimum support prices of MFP with a purpose of providing enhanced income to tribal gatherers. Further, additional 37 MFP items have also been included in the list of MSP  for MFP  Scheme to expand the ambit and coverage of the scheme vide notification dated 26.5.2020 and 11.11.2020. Thus, the Scheme currently covers a total 87 items.
- x. During 2020-21, on request of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs vide Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A)  dated  16/04/20  issued  guidelines  aiming  to  relax  the  provisions  of  lockdown  for Collection, harvesting and processing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP)/ Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) by STs and other forest dwellers in forest areas across the country.
- xi. During 2020-21, Ministry of Tribal Affairs provided funds to the tune of Rs. 5476.01 crore for various development  activities  including  education,  health,  livelihood.  Further,  State  Governments  have  been 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  within  their  share  of  allocation  for consideration by the Project Appraisal Committee in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- xii. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) took various efforts to increase sale of tribal craft and products as given below:
- a. During the financial year 2020-21, procurement of tribal craft and products for an amount of Rs. 1709 lakh was made and 2802 tribal artisans were empanelled.
- b. In 2020-21, 24 virtual and three on ground Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) were organized by TRIFED across the country. For expansion of supplier base, suppliers' conference was organized at New Delhi where about 250 tribal suppliers participated from across the country to finalise the supply orders for each Region.
- c. During pandemic, TRIFED launched an e-market place www.tribesindia. com for tribal artisan/suppliers to sell their products.
- d. During the financial year 2020-21 TRIFED organized Aadi Mahotsav from 1st February to 15thFebruary, 2021 at Dilli Haat INA, New Delhi wherein 1000 tribal artisans/cooks from across the country participated.
- e. Although the outlets were closed during lock down system of sale through home delivery and mobile vans adopted to enhance the sale of tribal products in the year 2020-21 and realized the sale for an amount of Rs.2963.09 lakh. In the current financial year 2021-22 sale is Rs.337.32 lakhs as on 31.7.2021.
- f. TRIFED has been promoting E-Commerce sale from its own portal www.tribesindia.com and also present on  all  major  e-commerce  portals  like  Amazon,  Snapdeal,  Flipkart,  Paytm,  and  Gem.  With  promotion through digital and social media, through this initiative, TRIFED has made sales of Rs. 131.76 lakh in 202021  and  during  the  current  financial  year  2021-22,  the  sale  of  Rs.  34.98  lakh  has  been  realized  as  on 31.7.2021.
- g. Under Vandhan Vikas Karyakram, Vandhan, efforts were made to establish new Vandhan Kendras and Vandhan Self-help groups.
- xiii. Besides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) undertook various interventions for better healthcare in areas with significant tribal population as indicated below:
- xiv. All States/UTs are provided with necessary financial support under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package. 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. Details of funds allocation may be sought from NHM-Finance.
- xv. A Scheme on 'India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package - PhaseII' (ECRP-Phase-II) during 2021-22 has been 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.
- xvi. Support is provided to the States for provision for establishing District Paediatric 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.
- xvii. Support is extended to create pre-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.
- xviii. To fast-track the availability  of Medical  Oxygen in rural and peri-urban areas, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare envisages to provide 1 lakhs Oxygen Concentrators to the Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) including Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) in the country under PMCARES Fund, so as to bring medical management closer to people and ensure the availability of critical resource of Oxygen closer to the public. States/UTs are requested to give preference to the rural, peri-urban and tribal areas. Accordingly, so far, more than 18,000 Oxygen Concentrators have been allocated to various States. MoHFW is coordinating with the MoPetroleum and Natural  Gas  /  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  (ONGC)  for  the  effective  implementation  of  this intervention.
- xix. Vaccination  drive  has  been  intensified  across  the  country  to  safeguard  the  citizen  from  the  fatality  of COVID including tribal people.
- xx. 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.
- xxi. Further, funds to the tune of Rs. 30521.89 crore has been spent by other Central Ministries (excluding MoTA and MoHFW) for various development activities for tribal people that includes Rs. 10027.77 crore under livelihood related activities.
- xxii. The ongoing intervention under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMJKAY) has been extended for a further period of five months till March 2022 wherein, provision is there to provide 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.

(c) Information on improvements in living conditions of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) during the pandemic period is not maintained centrally by the Ministry. The details of the healthcare infrastructure in tribal regions as per the Rural Health Statistics (RHS-2019-20) which is managed by the National Health Mission, Ministry of Health & Family welfare is attached as annexure.

(d)  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  not  received  any  adverse  report  from  any  State  Government  mentioning community living, poor quarantine facilities and struggle for livelihood as reasons of spread of COVID-19 in tribal areas.

Annexure Annexure referred to in Reply to Point (c) of the LSUQ No. 2368 for answer on 13.12.2021 (Rural Health

Statistics 2019-20)

| REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   | REQUIREMENT AND SHORTFALL OF SUB CENTRES, PHCs &CHCs IN TRIBAL AREAS   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                                  | State/ UT                                                              |                                                                        |                                                                        |                                                                        |                                                                        | March,                                                                 | March,                                                                 | March,                                                                 | March,                                                                 | March,                                                                 | March,                                                                 |
| S.No.                                                                  | State/ UT                                                              | Estimated mid-year Tribal Population on 1st July 2020 in Rural Areas   | Sub Centres                                                            | Sub Centres                                                            | Sub Centres                                                            | PHCs                                                                   | PHCs                                                                   | PHCs                                                                   | CHCs                                                                   | CHCs                                                                   | CHCs                                                                   |
| S.No.                                                                  | State/ UT                                                              | Estimated mid-year Tribal Population on 1st July 2020 in Rural Areas   | R                                                                      | P                                                                      | S                                                                      | R                                                                      | P                                                                      | S                                                                      | R                                                                      | P                                                                      | S                                                                      |
| 1                                                                      | Andhra Pradesh                                                         | 2258788                                                                | 752                                                                    | 816                                                                    | **                                                                     | 112                                                                    | 158                                                                    | **                                                                     | 28                                                                     | 21                                                                     | 7                                                                      |
| 2                                                                      | Arunachal Pradesh#                                                     | 845133                                                                 | 281                                                                    | 363                                                                    | **                                                                     | 42                                                                     | 124                                                                    | **                                                                     | 10                                                                     | 60                                                                     | **                                                                     |
| 3                                                                      | Assam                                                                  | 4032528                                                                | 1344                                                                   | 786                                                                    | 558                                                                    | 201                                                                    | 185                                                                    | 16                                                                     | 50                                                                     | 32                                                                     | 18                                                                     |
| 4                                                                      | Bihar                                                                  | 1475163                                                                | 491                                                                    | 232                                                                    | 259                                                                    | 73                                                                     | 33                                                                     | 40                                                                     | 18                                                                     | 0                                                                      | 18                                                                     |
| 5                                                                      | Chhattisgarh                                                           | 7949854                                                                | 2649                                                                   | 2817                                                                   | **                                                                     | 397                                                                    | 399                                                                    | **                                                                     | 99                                                                     | 89                                                                     | 10                                                                     |
| 6                                                                      | Goa(1)                                                                 | 66873                                                                  | 22                                                                     | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | 3                                                                      | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | 0                                                                      | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  |
| 7                                                                      | Gujarat                                                                | 8411532                                                                | 2803                                                                   | 2757                                                                   | 46                                                                     | 420                                                                    | 424                                                                    | **                                                                     | 105                                                                    | 94                                                                     | 11                                                                     |
| 8                                                                      | Haryana *                                                              | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  |
| 9                                                                      | Himachal Pradesh                                                       | 400577                                                                 | 133                                                                    | 105                                                                    | 28                                                                     | 20                                                                     | 47                                                                     | **                                                                     | 5                                                                      | 8                                                                      | **                                                                     |
| 10                                                                     | Jharkhand                                                              | 8891251                                                                | 2963                                                                   | 2462                                                                   | 501                                                                    | 444                                                                    | 175                                                                    | 269                                                                    | 111                                                                    | 103                                                                    | 8                                                                      |
| 11                                                                     | Karnataka                                                              | 3461432                                                                | 1153                                                                   | 291                                                                    | 862                                                                    | 173                                                                    | 65                                                                     | 108                                                                    | 43                                                                     | 7                                                                      | 36                                                                     |
| 12                                                                     | Kerala                                                                 | 267151                                                                 | 89                                                                     | 272                                                                    | **                                                                     | 13                                                                     | 150                                                                    | **                                                                     | 3                                                                      | 35                                                                     | **                                                                     |
| 13                                                                     | Madhya Pradesh                                                         | 16222003                                                               | 5407                                                                   | 2999                                                                   | 2408                                                                   | 811                                                                    | 320                                                                    | 491                                                                    | 202                                                                    | 86                                                                     | 116                                                                    |
| 14                                                                     | Maharashtra                                                            | 9444840                                                                | 3148                                                                   | 2562                                                                   | 586                                                                    | 472                                                                    | 397                                                                    | 75                                                                     | 118                                                                    | 64                                                                     | 54                                                                     |
| 15                                                                     | Manipur                                                                | 839400                                                                 | 279                                                                    | 232                                                                    | 47                                                                     | 41                                                                     | 44                                                                     | **                                                                     | 10                                                                     | 6                                                                      | 4                                                                      |
| 16                                                                     | Meghalaya #                                                            | 2336538                                                                | 778                                                                    | 444                                                                    | 334                                                                    | 116                                                                    | 111                                                                    | 5                                                                      | 29                                                                     | 26                                                                     | 3                                                                      |
| 17                                                                     | Mizoram #                                                              | 531192                                                                 | 177                                                                    | 368                                                                    | **                                                                     | 26                                                                     | 65                                                                     | **                                                                     | 6                                                                      | 9                                                                      | **                                                                     |
| 18                                                                     | Nagaland #                                                             | 1172642                                                                | 390                                                                    | 415                                                                    | **                                                                     | 58                                                                     | 137                                                                    | **                                                                     | 14                                                                     | 21                                                                     | **                                                                     |
| 19                                                                     | Odisha                                                                 | 9548607                                                                | 3182                                                                   | 2701                                                                   | 481                                                                    | 477                                                                    | 444                                                                    | 33                                                                     | 119                                                                    | 134                                                                    | **                                                                     |
| 20                                                                     | Punjab *                                                               | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  |
| 21                                                                     | Rajasthan                                                              | 9787883                                                                | 3262                                                                   | 2970                                                                   | 292                                                                    | 489                                                                    | 197                                                                    | 292                                                                    | 122                                                                    | 65                                                                     | 57                                                                     |
| 22                                                                     | Sikkim                                                                 | 138618                                                                 | 46                                                                     | 58                                                                     | **                                                                     | 6                                                                      | 12                                                                     | **                                                                     | 1                                                                      | 0                                                                      | 1                                                                      |
| 23                                                                     | Tamil Nadu                                                             | 641701                                                                 | 213                                                                    | 543                                                                    | **                                                                     | 32                                                                     | 94                                                                     | **                                                                     | 8                                                                      | 21                                                                     | **                                                                     |
| 24                                                                     | Telangana                                                              | 2777773                                                                | 925                                                                    | 1489                                                                   | **                                                                     | 138                                                                    | 202                                                                    | **                                                                     | 34                                                                     | 19                                                                     | 15                                                                     |
| 25                                                                     | Tripura                                                                | 1061341                                                                | 353                                                                    | 439                                                                    | **                                                                     | 53                                                                     | 46                                                                     | 7                                                                      | 13                                                                     | 8                                                                      | 5                                                                      |
| 26                                                                     | Uttarakhand                                                            | 278218                                                                 | 92                                                                     | 146                                                                    | **                                                                     | 13                                                                     | 7                                                                      | 6                                                                      | 3                                                                      | 5                                                                      | **                                                                     |
| 27                                                                     | Uttar Pradesh *                                                        | 1160439                                                                | 386                                                                    | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | 58                                                                     | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | 14                                                                     | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  |
| 28                                                                     | West Bengal                                                            | 4907496                                                                | 1635                                                                   | 2889                                                                   | **                                                                     | 245                                                                    |                                                                        | **                                                                     | 61                                                                     | 105                                                                    | **                                                                     |
| 30                                                                     | A&N Islands (1)                                                        | 25803                                                                  | 8                                                                      | 37                                                                     |                                                                        |                                                                        | 283                                                                    |                                                                        | 0                                                                      | 1                                                                      | **                                                                     |
| 29                                                                     | Chandigarh *                                                           | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | ** N App                                                               | 1 N App                                                                | 4 N App                                                                | ** N App                                                               | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  | N App                                                                  |

| 31              | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu   | 149753    | 49    | 76    | **    | 7     | 9     | **    | 1     | 2     | **    |
|-----------------|--------------------------------------|-----------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 32              | Delhi *                              | N App     | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App |
| 33              | Jammu& Kashmir                       | 1281909   | 427   | 227   | 200   | 64    | 35    | 29    | 16    | 4     | 12    |
| 34              | Ladakh #                             | 210000    | 70    | 238   | **    | 10    | 32    | **    | 2     | 7     | **    |
| 35              | Lakshadweep# (1)                     | 2856      | 0     | 11    | **    | 0     | 4     | **    | 0     | 3     | **    |
| 36              | Puducherry *                         | N App     | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App | N App |
| All India/Total | All India/Total                      | 100579297 | 33507 | 29745 | 6602  | 5015  | 4203  | 1371  | 1245  | 1035  | 375   |

N App - Not applicable N A - Data not available The requirement is calculated using the prescribed norms on the basis of Tribal population. All India shortfall is derived by adding state-wise figures of shortfall ignoring the existing surplus in some of the states. Mid year Tribal population for the year 2020 calculated based on the percentages of Tribal population in the Rural areas in Census 2011

- R: Required; P: In Position; S: Shortfall;    **: Surplus,      *: State / UT has no separate Tribal Area /

Population; #:States are predominently tribal areas

(1) The population is less than the norm (CHC) of 80,000.

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