Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Climate Change Challenges
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 356

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 05/02/2024

## CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES

## 356. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

## SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  introduced  any  scheme/plan/mission/initiative  to  address  the  climate change challenges in tribal areas;
- (b) if so, the details of such scheme/plan/mission/initiative and the status of their implementation, Statewise especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) the current status of special allocation of funds for climate change initiatives in tribal areas through Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) in FY 2021-22 and 2022-23, State-wise especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (d) the total percentage of the overall budget of the Ministry that has been specifically designated for climate change-related projects in tribal and rural regions through ITDAs over the last three years; and (e) whether the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has put forward any submission/research/ proposal

regarding the impact of climate change on tribal areas in the State, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b): The  Government  of  India  stands  committed  to  combat  climate  change  challenges.  As  per allocation  of  Business Rules, Ministry  of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal Ministry for climate Change including climate change challenges in tribal areas.  As informed by MoEFCC, the Government is implementing  the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC), which is the overarching policy framework and comprises of national missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan eco-system, sustainable habitat, health, green India, and strategic knowledge on climate change. The NAPCC is being implemented on pan India basis  considering  India's  commitment  under  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.  Further, 34 States/Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) consistent with the objectives of NAPCC.

In addition, the Government has launched many schemes and programs to scale up India's action on both, the adaptation and mitigation, which envisages to take appropriate measures across many sectors including water, agriculture, forest, energy, sustainable mobility, housing, waste management, circular economy, and resource efficiency, etc.

Besides, Government has enacted Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in short FRA) wherein under Section 3(1)(i), Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs) and Other Traditionally Forest Dwellers (OTFD) enjoy the rights to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use. Further, Section 5 of FRA empowers the holders of any forest right, Gram Sabha and village level institutions in areas where there are holders of any forest right under this Act to -

(a) protect the wild life, forest and biodiversity;

(b)  ensure  that  adjoining  catchments  area,  water  sources  and  other  ecological  sensitive  areas  are adequately protected;

(c) ensure that the habitat of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers is preserved from any form of destructive practices affecting their cultural and natural heritage;

(d) ensure that the decisions taken in the Gram Sabha to regulate access to community forest resources and  stop  any  activity  which  adversely  affects  the  wild  animals,  forest  and  the  biodiversity  are complied with.

(c) & (d): Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), now called as Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) is  a  dedicated  source  of  fund  for  tribal  development.  Besides  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA),  42 Ministries / Departments including MoEFCC are allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year. During last 3 years i.e. 2021-22 to 2023-24, an amount of Rs. 152 cr , 165 cr and Rs 159 Crore has been allocated under DAPST in different schemes aimed at protecting environment, wildlife, natural resources , wildlife habitat  including climate change, National Mission for Himalayan studies etc. The details of funds allocated can be seen at stcmis.gov.in.

(e): MoEFCC has informed that no proposal regarding the impact of climate change on tribal areas in the State of Andhra Pradesh has been received in the Climate Change Division.

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