Lok Sabha Question No. 601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-25
Subject: Progress and Welfare of Tribal Population
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 601

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 25/07/2024

## PROGRESS AND WELFARE OF TRIBAL POPULATION

## 601 SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

(a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  technology,  backwardness  and  socio economic handicaps are blocking the progress and welfare of tribal people; and

(b)   if so, the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) & (b): There are more than 705 tribal communities including 75 PVTGs which are spread across the country who are historically living in forests, hilly, mountainous and remote areas which are hard-to-reach and have challenges with regard to Physical and Digital connectivity. After Independence, various approaches and models have been developed for tribal development. Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) came into existence in 1974-75 and has undergone many changes since then (later known as Schedule Tribe Component (STC) and Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).  However, the basic philosophy has remained the same that all Ministries/Departments of Govt of India need to work together by formulating schemes for welfare of the Scheduled Tribes . In last 10 years, the budget allocation under Development Action Plan for STs (DAPST) has increased 5-fold from Rs. 24,598 Crores (in 2013-14) to Rs 1,19,509 Crores during 2023-24 across Union Ministries/Departments. 42 Union Ministries/Departments have been allocated Budget Grants under the DAPST for schemes of development for STs. There are relaxed norms for tribal area for the construction of Road, Anganwadi, Health center.   The Ministry has developed a dedicated portal (stcmis.gov.in)for monitoring the funds utilization by sectoral ministries. The data is available in public domain.

Based on data captured through Antodaya Mission data by Ministry of Rural Development in 2019  and  2022,  the  Ministry  of  tribal  Affairs  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Adi  Adarsh  gram Yojana,  which  is  aimed  at  improving  infrastructure  of  tribal  villages  in  convergence  with DAPST funds.

Hon'ble PM launched Pradhan Mantri jan Jati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) on  15 th November  2023  with  budget  of  Rs  24,104  cr  for  75 PVTG  communities  (11  lakh families) residing in about 30,0000 habittaions which are located in forest and remote areas in 18 states and 1 UT. Under the mission, population norms have been relaxed for all concerned schemes.  For Pradhan Mantri Garm Sadak Yjana (PMGSY) for construction of Road and for setting up Anganwadis norms have been relaxed to 100. For Jaljiwan Mission norms have been relaxed to provide community tap for habitation with 20 Households. Provision of access of electricity  to  remaining  un-electrified  households  norms  of  Revamped  Distribution  Sector Scheme (RDSS) (Mo Power) have been relaxed.  For HHs where electricity through Grid is not possible, norms for House energization through Solar Power have been relaxed through new Solar  Power  Scheme  for  PVTG  Habitations/villages.   For  improving  education,  health  and nutrition, provision of PVTG hostels, Mobile medical units and multipurpose center has been made in the mission, which has 11 interventions by 9 Ministries.

Ministry also implements 5 scholarship schemes under which scholarship is given to more than 35 lakh students every year with annual budget of more than Rs. 2500 cr.  Through Integration of State's Portal of Pre-matric and Post-matric Schemes with DBT Tribal Portal the process of scholarship release has been streamlined. In last 10 years Scholarship budget has increased 2.5 time from 978 cr in 2013-14 to more than Rs 2500 cr in 2023-24.

For providing quality education, Ministry has formulated a new Central Sector Scheme in 2019, where in every block with 50% or more ST population and 20,000 or more tribal persons will have an EMRS, to be at par with Navodaya Vidyalayas. 440 new schools are being set up in remote tribal areas. With 288 schools already sanctioned under Article 275(1) till 2018, total 728 schools will be set up by 2026. The construction cost of EMRS enhanced in 2021-22 from Rs. 20 cr and Rs. 24 cr in Plain and Hilly areas to Rs. 38cr and Rs. 48 cr respectively for 452 new schools. There is provision of upgradation of old schools @Rs 5 cr per school and setting up of 15 Centres of Excellence for Sports @ Rs 5 cr each.  An amount of Rs. 28919.72 crore has been allocated under the scheme. More than 38,000 teachers will be recruited in a phased manner, of which more than 10,000 teaching and non teaching staff have been recruited.

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) seeks to achieve livelihood driven tribal development across the country by providing forward and backward linkages by setting up Van

Dhan Vikas Kendras / Van Dhan Producer Enterprises apart from assisting the States to make procurement of Minor Forest Produce at Minimum Support Price. There is also provision of setting up Haat Bazars, Warehouses under the scheme. An amount of Rs. 1612 cr. has been approved under PMJVM scheme for five years.  TRIFED is the implementing agency for the scheme. Under Van Dhan Karyaram, which was started in 2019, more than 3800 Dhan Vikas Kendras  (VDVKs) covering  more  than 10  lakhs persons  in 28  States/  UTs have  been sanctioned. 87 MFPs were added in the list of notified items of MFPs to be covered under MSP for MFP scheme.

Hon'ble PM launched sickle Cell Misison for eradication of sickle Cell disease by 2047, under which  testing  of  7  cr  persons  will  be  undertaken.   Special  provisons  have  ben  made  for prevention, treatment and elimination of disease.

Technology has been given special emphasis for empowerment of tribals. To monitor progress of the scheme, utilization of funds by states , Ministry has  developed a Performance dashboard (dashboard.tribal.gov.in) which can be visted for details of various interventions by Govt of India for holistic development of tribal community.

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