Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Educational Programmes for STs
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO- *291

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 20/03/2025

## EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR ST

## *291. SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that there has been low literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes (STs) despite various initiatives taken by the Government and if so, the details thereof; (b)  the  specific  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  low  literacy  rate among Scheduled Tribes; (c) the steps taken to resolve challenges/bottlenecks in the Ashram Schools Scheme including the lack of infrastructure and staffing which have left over forty percent of sanctioned schools
- non-operational;
- (d) the manner in which the Government is ensuring timely disbursement of funds under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, which supports over twenty-two lakh tribal students; and (e) whether the Government has implemented concrete measures to rectify these failures and ensure efficient implementation of tribal education programmes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*291 for answer on 20.03.2025

(a) The literacy rate of Scheduled Tribes remains lower than that of the overall population. However, there has been a significant improvement in ST literacy over the years with the gap gradually narrowing, as shown in the table below:

|         | (In percent)   |       |
|---------|----------------|-------|
| Year    | ST             | All   |
| 2001    | 47.10          | 64.84 |
| 2011    | 59             | 73    |
| 2017-18 | 67.7           | 76.9  |
| 2023-24 | 73.40          | 80.90 |

Source: Census for 2001 & 2011 and for 2017-18 & 2023-24 - Periodic Labour Force Survey, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation

(b) The Government is implementing various schemes to increase the literacy rate among Scheduled Tribes. Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan since 2018-19. Bridging gender and social category gaps at all levels of school education is one of the major objectives of the scheme. The Scheme reaches out to girls, and children belonging to SC, ST, Minority communities and transgender. The Scheme also  focuses  on  the  identified  Special  Focus  Districts  (SFDs)  on  the  basis  of  adverse performance  on  various  indicators  of  enrolment,  retention,  and  gender  parity,  as  well  as concentration  of  SC,  ST  and  minority  communities.  A  total  of  109  ST  SFDs,  having population of more than 25% and above ST have been identified.

Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL )is also implementing PM POSHAN Scheme for providing hot cooked meal to eligible children in Government and Government - aided Schools. One of the objectives of the scheme is to encourage poor children, belonging to  disadvantaged  sections,  to  attend  school  more  regularly  and  help  them  concentrate  on classroom activities.

The Department of Higher Education (DoHE) ,Scholarship Division, is implementing two scholarship component schemes under the PM-USP Yojana namely (i) Central Sector Scheme of  Scholarship  (CSSS)  for  College  and  University  Students  and  (ii)  Special  Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (SSS for J&K and Ladakh) which benefits  all students including STs

The Government has approved a centrally sponsored innovative scheme called Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, popularly known as ULLAS: Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society. The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to empower those adults aged 15 years and above who could not get due schooling.

The  Scheme  'National  Means-cum-Merit  Scholarship  Scheme'  is  being  implemented  by DoSEL, with the objective to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at secondary stage.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  implementing  the  following  schemes  / programmes/interventions to increase the literacy rates and education level of STs:

(i). Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS): To provide free and quality education to tribal children, the Government has decided to establish 728 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons as per 2011 census. Accordingly, in addition to the existing 288 schools sanctioned under Grants under article 275(1) of Constitution, 440 new schools (cumulatively 728 EMRSs) are scheduled to be established in the blocks fulfilling the criteria and provision of suitable land by the State to enroll around 3.5 lakhs ST students. As on date, a total number of 719 locations have been approved out of which 477 schools have been made functional. To ensure quality education  and  holistic  development  for  tribal  students  following  facilities  are  being  provided  in  these schools:-

1. Educational Infrastructure:
2. o Well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids.
3. o Science and computer laboratories.
4. o Libraries with diverse learning resources.
2. Accommodation and Amenities:
6. o Residential facilities for students and staff.
7. o Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities like bedding, furniture, and hygiene facilities.
3. Sports and Extracurricular Facilities:
9. o Playgrounds and sports equipment.
10. o Facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports
4. Health and Nutrition:
12. o Regular health check-ups and medical facilities.
5. IT and Digital Learning:
14. o Smart classrooms for digital education.
15. o Computer labs with internet access.
6. Vocational Training:
17. o Skill development and vocational training programs to enhance employability.

(ii). Scholarship Schemes: The Ministry is implementing five scholarship schemes for delivery of better educational opportunities.

- i. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)
- ii. Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)
- iii. National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.
- iv. National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)
- v. National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

(iii).  Grants  in  Aid  to  Voluntary  Organizations:  Under  the  scheme,  fund  is  provided  to Voluntary  Organizations  to  run  residential,  nonresidential  schools  and  hostels  and  also support educational complexes for ST girls in low literacy districts (as defined in Census 2011).

(iv).  Under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): The PM JANMAN  launched on 15 th  November 2023 is  targeted at the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). One of the interventions under the Abhiyaan  is construction of 500 hostels  in  underserved  areas  under  Samagra  Shiksha  which  is  being  implemented  by  the Ministry of Education.

(v). Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Under DAJGUA, one of the interventions is  construction  of  1000  hostels  under  Samagra  Shiksha  which  is  being  implemented  by Ministry of Education. Further, upgradation &  improving  infrastructure of Hostels, Govt./State  Tribal  Residential  schools  is  also  covered  under  the  Abhiyan  which  is  to  be considered by Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on the proposals from State Governments.

(vi). State Governments also run their independent programmes. For instance , state Tribal Welfare Departments run Ashram schools specifically for Scheduled Tribes.

(c) Ashram schools target remote rural areas which are low on educational resources, and where mainstream schools are difficult to  be established  . They are an exclusive initiative for tribal students. Ashram Schools serves to check the problems affecting tribal education namely  non-enrolment,  drop-out  and  poor  quality  of  students.  State  Governments  are responsible for running and overall maintenance of these Ashram Schools and undertaking quality checks.

Earlier, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs  (MoTA)  was  running  a separate  scheme 'Establishment  of  Ashram  Schools  in  Tribal  Sub-Plan  Areas'  under  which  funds  were provided  to  State  Governments  for  construction  of  Ashram  schools.  The  intervention  of construction of Ashram School was subsumed in the scheme of 'Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS)' and Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India during 2018-19. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provided construction cost to the State Governments and State Government was  responsible for running and overall maintenance of these Ashram schools.

The Government has launched a new Abhiyaan namely the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October 2024 for all villages with at least 50% STs and having a minimum of 500 ST persons along with aspirational blocks with at least 50 STs. Keeping in view the need for improvement in the infrastructure of Ashram schools, one of the important components under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is improving infrastructure of Ashram schools, hostels, Govt./State Tribal Residential schools. The requirements such as additional classrooms, toilet blocks, hostels, furniture, major works in the school, teacher & staff hostel are considered for funding under the scheme based on the proposals submitted by the State Governments in terms of scheme guidelines.

The  tentative  rates  for  various  requirements  taken  for  estimating  the  funds  required  for improving infrastructure of Ashram Schools is given below:

| Particular                                                                                        | Maximum amount to be sanctioned (in Rs. lakhs)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Classroom (50 students)                                                                           | 35                                               |
| Toilet Block                                                                                      | 20                                               |
| Hostel (50 students)                                                                              | 275 (in line with PM JANMAN norms)               |
| Furniture (per additional class room)                                                             | 2.75                                             |
| Major works in the school                                                                         | 75                                               |
| Teaches Hostel in residential school ( Upto 12 studio apartment with bathroom and common kitchen) | 175                                              |

(d) In case of Post Matric Scholarships, the scholarship division (MoTA) conducts regular meetings with state governments and follow up is undertaken to ensure that the scholarship proposals are obtained on time from the respective state governments for timely processing and release of funds.

Also,  the  process  of  release  of  funds  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  PostMatric  Scholarship  for  ST  students  is  done  as  per  the  Single  Nodal  Agency  Model.  The scholarship  is  disbursed  to  the  eligible  beneficiaries  under  the  Post-Matric  Scholarship Scheme in DBT mode from the SNA account. The flow of the fund in SNA account and expenditure from it can be monitored through PFMS reports. This model ensures that the allocation of funds to States for the CSS is made in a timely manner and after meeting various stipulations. Effective implementation of this Model has brought about greater efficiency in CSS fund utilization, tracking of funds, pragmatic and just-in-time release of funds to the States.

(e) The Government is taking various measures to ensure efficient implementation of schemes including tribal education programmes. Some of them are as under:

- i. 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.
- ii. Release of funds to States/UTs in the scheme is made through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) platform.
- iii. Utilization Certificates are insisted upon as a pre-requisite for further release of funds as per the norms of GFR.
- iv. Progress reports regarding the status of implementation of scheme is obtained.
- v. Officers while visiting States/UTs also ascertain the progress of implementation of the scheme.
- vi. Scheme/programme-wise progress and utilization of funds are also monitored through dedicated online portals and performance dashboard.
- vii. Besides, evaluation of the schemes is conducted from time to time.

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