Lok Sabha Question No. 4046 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Development of Heritage of Gondwana
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- †4046

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 19/12/2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF HERITAGE OF GONDWANA

## †4046. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to take over the heritage of Gondwana which used to be a tribal State at the south bank of Narmada and develop them for tourism;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the works being done for the overall development of the tribals?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): As informed by Ministry of Tourism, development and promotion of tourism in the country is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Governments (SGs)/Union Territory Administrations (UTs). The Ministry of Tourism complements the efforts of SGs/UTs by providing the financial assistance under its 'Swadesh Darshan (SD)' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' for development of tourism amenities on receipt of project proposals in line with the relevant scheme guidelines, availability of funds under relevant schemes etc.

Ministry of Tourism sanctions tourism projects on receipt of project proposals frm the SGs/UTs in line with the relevant scheme guidelines, availability of funds under relevant schemes etc. As of now, there is no Gondwana specific project proposal in prescribed format received from the State Government.

2.    Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides funds to State Governments for setting up of tribal freedom fighter museums to preserve and  showcase the tribal heritage. 'Raja Shankar Kunwar Raghunath Shah Freedom Fighter Museum' in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh have been inaugurated by PM on 15.11.2024, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.  2  Gallaries  at Badal Bhoi Museum, are dedicated to RANI DURGAWATI and GOND SANGRAM.  Raja Shankar Kunwar Raghunath Shah Freedom Fighter Museum' in Jabalpur is dedicated to

martyrs of Gond dynasty. A book Martyers  of Gondwana giving details of sacrifices by freedom fighters of Gondwana kingdom, social, cultural and economic life of Gondwana tribes has been compiled after detailed research. These museums will not be attraction of tourists but will also give glimpse of Gondwana rich cultural heritage and contributions to freedom struggle.    Ministry of Tribal Affairs has also sanctioned tribal tourism project in MP including Gondwana, where in tribal Home stays are promoted.

(c): Government is implementing Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) (now known as Development Action  Plan  for  Scheduled  Tribes  (DAPST))  as  a  strategy  for  the  development  of Scheduled Tribes and areas having tribal concentration in the country for improving the social  economic  condition  of  the  tribals.   Besides  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  41 Ministries/Departments  are  allocating  certain  percentage  of  their  total  scheme  budget every year for tribal development under DAPST for various tribal development projects relating to education, health, housing, employment generation, skill development etc.

Hon'ble Prime Minister launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October,  2024.  The  Abhiyan  comprises  of  25  interventions  implemented  by  17  line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health,  education,  Anganwadi  facilities  and  providing  livelihood  opportunities  in  549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. Each concerned Ministry has been allocated  budget  and  targets  under  Abhiyan  and  responsible  for  implementing  the intervention assigned to it.  The Abhiyan aims at Saturation through convergence and outreach.

Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  implements  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Eklavya  Model Residential School (EMRS) and 715 schools have been sanctioned, out of which 476 EMRSs  are  functional  benefiting  1,33,929  students  covering  264  districts  in  28 States/UTs.

Ministry is also implementing schemes - Pre- Matric Scholarship to ST students, PostMatric Scholarship to ST students, National Scholarship  for Higher Education for ST students,  National  Fellowship  for  ST  students,  National  Overseas  for  ST  students  for providing scholarship to ST students in the country.

The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  through  its  two  agencies  namely  Tribal  Co-operative Marketing  Development  Federation  of  India  (TRIFED)  &  National  Scheduled  Tribes Finance  &  Development  Corporation  (NSTFDC)  is  promoting  economic  activities including entrepreneurship among the tribal communities.

For the socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 States and one UT, Hon'ble Prime Minister launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) on 15th November 2023.  The mission aims to provide basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and improved access to education, health  and  nutrition,  road  and  telecom  connectivity,  electrification  of  unelectrified households and sustainable livelihood opportunities in 3 years. These objectives are being met through 11 interventions implemented by 9-line Ministries.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides financial assistance to the State Governments on the basis of their proposals under Grants under Proviso to Article 275(1) of the Constitution. Funding under this programme is to enable the State 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.

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