Lok Sabha Question No. 2930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Empowerment of Socially and Educationally Backward Tribes
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †2930

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 07/08/2023

## EMPOWERMENT OF SOCIALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY BACKWARD TRIBES

†2930. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of literacy and employment rates of the socially and educationally backward tribes; and
- (b) the details of the ongoing projects for empowerment of socially and educationally backward tribes?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The literacy rate for total, male and female population in respect of Scheduled Tribes as per Census 2011 was 59 %, 68.5 % and 49.4 % respectively. Further, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), 202021 conducted by National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistical & Programme Implementation total, male and female literacy rate among STs are 71.6 %, 79.8 % and 63.1 % respectively.

The unemployment rate for Scheduled Tribes (ST), as per PLFS 2020-21 report is as given below:

(Figures in %)

| Rural   | Rural   | Rural   | Urban   | Urban   | Urban   | Rural+ Urban   | Rural+ Urban   | Rural+ Urban   |
|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Male    | Femal   | Person  | Male    | Female  | Person  | Male           | Female         | Person         |
| 3.2     | e 1.0   | 2.3     | 7.7     | 6.3     | 7.3     | 3.7            | 1.3            | 2.7            |

(b): Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing various schemes/programmes exclusively for socio-economic development and welfare of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the country. Details of major schemes/programmes implemented by the Ministry are given at Annexure.

Further, under Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST), 41 other Ministries/Departments are allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development for various tribal development  projects  relating  to  education,  health,  agriculture,  irrigation,  roads,  housing,  electrification, employment generation, skill development, etc. Some of the schemes/programmes under DAPST aimed for the  socio-economic  upliftment  of  STs  are  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G), Samagra Shiksha, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) /  National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Mission,   Ayushman Bharat  -  Pradhan Mantri Jan  Arogya  Yojana (PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, PM-KISAN, AtmaNirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana, etc.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †2930 for 07.08.2023 by SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA regarding 'Empowerment of Socially and Educationally Backward Tribes'

Brief details of major schemes/programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the country:

- (i)  Special  Central  Assistance  to  Tribal  Sub-Scheme  (SCA  to  TSS)/Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): Under scheme of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) 100% grants was provided to the State Governments for activities related to education, health, sanitation, water supply, livelihood, skill development, Ashram Schools, Boys and Girls Hostels, minor infrastructure, etc. to bridge the gap between Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and others as a critical gap filling measure. The Scheme has been revamped as Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY).

The  Ministry  has  analyzed  Mission  Antyodaya  data  collated  by  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  and  has identified 36,428 villages with 50% ST population and 500 STs to be covered under PMAAGY.  The scheme envisaged to undertake the developmental activities in these villages mainly through convergence of funds available with different Ministries/Departments and State Government under TSP/DAPST and the funds from the scheme of PMAAGY would be used for gap filling. States are also be encouraged to supplement with State TSP funds, District Mineral Funds (DMF) and Finance Commission grants.

- (ii) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution : Under the Proviso to Article 275(1) of Constitution, Grants are released to 26 States, having ST population for raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas and for the welfare of tribal people. This is a Special Area Programme and 100% grants are provided to States. Funds are released to the  State Governments depending on the felt needs of ST population to bridge the gap in infrastructure activities in the fields of education, health, skill development, livelihood, drinking water, sanitation, etc.
- (iii)  Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): The scheme of Development of PVTGs covers 75 identified PVTGs among Scheduled Tribes in 18 States and UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands   for      activities   like   education,   housing,   land   distribution,   land   development,   agricultural development,  animal  husbandry,  construction  of  link  roads,  installation  of  non-conventional  sources  of energy for lighting purpose, social security or any other innovative  activity meant for the  comprehensive socio-economic development of PVTGs.
- (iv) Grant-in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes: Under the scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, the Ministry funds  projects  in  the  fields  of  education  and  health,  covering  residential  schools,  non-residential  schools, hostels, mobile dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, livelihood, etc.
- (v)  Pre-Matric  Scholarships  to  ST  students :  The  scheme  is  applicable  to  students  who  are  studying  in Classes  IX  -X.   Parental  income  from  all  sources  should  not  be  more  than  Rs.2.50  lakhs  per  annum. Scholarship of Rs.225/-per month for day scholars and Rs.525/-per month for hostellers is given for a period of 10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except North East and Hills States/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.
- (vi) Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to  the  Scheduled  Tribe  students studying at post-matriculation  or  post-secondary  levels  to  enable  them  to complete their education.  Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum.

Compulsory fees charged by educational institutions are reimbursed subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course  of  study  is  paid.  The  Scheme  is  implemented  by  the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UT of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.

(vii) National Overseas Scholarships for ST Candidates: The Scheme provides for financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD & Post-Doctoral study abroad.  A total of 20 awards are given  every  year.   Of  these,  17  awards  are  for  STs  and  3  awards  for  students  belonging  to  Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).  Parental/family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum.

## (viii) National Fellowship &Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students:

(a)National Scholarship- (Top class) Scheme [Graduate level]: The objective of the scheme is to encourage meritorious ST students for pursuing studies in prescribed courses in many institutions of excellence across the country like IITs, AIIMS, IIMs, NIITs, etc. identified by the Ministry. Family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum. Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer.

(b) National Fellowship for ST students: 750 fellowships are provided to ST students each year for pursing higher studies in India for MPhil and PhD. Fellowship is granted as per UGC norms.

(ix)  Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRS): Eklavya  Model  Residential  Schools  (EMRSs)  were introduced in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education exclusively to ST children with an objective to provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and get jobs in government and public and private sectors. In the Union Budget of 2018-19, Government announced that every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 ST persons will be eligible to have an Eklavya Model Residential School. A total number of 740 EMRSs are scheduled to be established. Eklavya schools will be on par with NavodayaVidyalayas and will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.

(x) Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing a  Scheme  'Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor  Forest  Produce  through  Minimum  Support  Price  and Development of Value Chain for MFP (MSP for MFP)' through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), since 2011 with the objective of providing safety net to ST MFP gatherers.

Ministry was implementing another scheme 'Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products' with 100 % grant to TRIFED and State Forest Development Corporations (SDCs) for development and marketing of tribal products.

PMJVM  has  been  conceptualized  with  the  merger  of  the  above  two  Schemes  i.e.  'MSP  for  MFP'  and 'Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products'. PMJVM seeks to achieve livelihood driven tribal development through quality input, technology, credit and better marketing access etc. in the next five years.

(xi)  Support  to  Tribal  Research  Institutes  (TRIs): Ministry  extends  support  to  the  State  Governments through the Scheme to set up new TRIs where it didn't exist and to strengthen functioning of existing TRIs to carry  out  its  core  responsibility  towards  Research  &  Documentations,  Training  and  capacity  building, promotion of rich tribal heritage etc. To preserve tribal art and culture, financial assistance is provided to TRI's to carry out various activities to preserve and promote tribal culture and heritage across the country through research and documentation, maintenance and preservation of art & artefacts, setting up of tribal museum, exchange visits for the tribals to other parts of the State, organizing tribal festivals etc. Funding under this Scheme is 100% grant-in-aid by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the TRIs on need basis with the approval of APEX  Committee.  TRIs  prepare  proposal  and  detailed  action  plan  for  the  year  along  with  budgetary requirement and submit it to the Ministry through State Tribal Welfare Department. Within the set of TRIs, there are cultural museum, library, training centre, research wing, etc.

(xii) Tribal  Research  Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE) : Through the scheme, promotion of rich tribal cultural heritage, dissemination of information and creation of awareness are given attention to which includes organization of Tribal Craft & Food Festivals, Sports, Music, Dance & Photo Competitions, Science, Art & Craft Expos, Workshops, Seminars, Production of documentary films by the  Ministry  &  States,  Bringing  out  Publications  thereby  highlighting  significant  studies,  documenting historical  facets  of  tribal  communities,  achievements  of  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  (MoTA)  &  State Departments besides other advertisements etc. at regular intervals. With a view to fill the gap of research studies on tribal issues, MoTA recognizes renowned NGOs, Research Institutes, Universities where expertise exist and which have already made a mark by carrying out pioneering research in the field of tribal cultures as  Centre  of  Excellences  (CoEs).  It  is  envisaged  that  CoEs  should  play  an  important  role  in  building knowledge bank to complement dedicated Activities of the Ministry.

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