Lok Sabha Question No. 2456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-01
Subject: Religious Conversion
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †2456

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 01/08/2022

## RELIGIOUS CONVERSION

## †2456.  SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that religious conversion is taking place on a large scale in many cities, villages and towns in the country;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to check the same;

(c) the details of the appropriate steps taken by the Government to protect the thousand years old culture of our tribes;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  committee  to  find  out  the  reasons  of  religious conversion by the tribal community people;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) the steps taken by the Government for the development of tribals; and

(g) the plans of the Government to bring the tribals into the mainstream of development?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) to (b): Figures about religious conversion are not being maintained by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

(c): Preservation and promotion of culture of the tribes of India is a priority of the Government of India. The twin objectives of the schemes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are the welfare and development of the Scheduled Tribes while preserving and promoting their culture.

(d): No sir.

(e): Does not arise.

(f  to  g): The  Government  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  strategy  for  the  development  of  tribal population and to bring them into the mainstream of development. Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), now called Scheduled  Tribe  Component  (STC),  is  a  dedicated  source  of  fund  for  tribal  development  and conservation and promotion of tribal culture, language and traditions.  STC is a multi-purpose strategy which  includes  support  for  education,  health,  sanitation,  water  supply,  livelihood  etc.  Major  part  of infrastructure development in tribal dominated areas and provision of basic amenities to tribal people in the country is carried out through various schemes / programmes of concerned Central Ministries and the  State  Governments  concerned,  while  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  provides  additive  to these initiatives by way of bridging gaps through its schemes, which are as follows:

- i. Revamping of the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Scheme as Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana to enable holistic development of the tribal population.
- ii. The  dedicated  Scheme  of  Development  of  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups  for important gap filling activities for the survival, protection and development of PVTGs, while preserving and promoting their culture.
- iii. 'Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India' to enable the States to meet the cost of such schemes of development as may be undertaken by the State for the purpose of  promoting  the  welfare  of  Scheduled  Tribes  in  that  State  or  raising  the  level  of administration of Scheduled Areas therein to that of the administration of the rest of the areas of that State.
- iv. The  scheme  of  Eklavya  Model  Residential  School  (EMRS) enables  ST  students  from Classes 6 th to 12 th to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population.
- v. The  Ministry  administers  five  scholarship  schemes,  catering  to  students  studying  in classes 9 th till Post-Doctoral Research, including for studying abroad in accordance with the guidelines of the concerned scheme.
- vi. The  scheme  of  grant-in-aid  to  voluntary  organization  working  for  the  welfare  of scheduled tribes has the prime objective to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of the Government and fill gaps in the sectors such as education and health in service deficient tribal areas through the efforts of voluntary organizations.
- vii. 'Support to Tribal Research Institute (TRI)' aims to strengthen Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in various activities.
- viii. The  scheme  of  Tribal  Festival,  Research  Information  and  Mass  Education  utilizes  the expertise  of  reputed  organizations,  research  institutes,  universities  to  create  replicable models in areas of education, health, livelihood, digital governance etc.
- ix. The scheme of Marketing and Logistics Development for Promoting Tribal Products from North Eastern Region has been recently introduced, to be implemented for a period of two years, with TRIFED as the nodal agency for the same.
- x. The schemes of the Ministry have now been merged into the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas  Mission  viz  (a)  'Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor  Forest  Produce  and Development of the Value Chain for MFP' and (b) the scheme of Institutional Support to TRIFED for Marketing Development and Marketing of Tribal Products.

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