Lok Sabha Question No. 1779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Empowerment of Tribal Women
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1779

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2024

## EMPOWERMENT OF TRIBAL WOMEN

## 1779. SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  Government  has  implemented  any  specific  initiatives  and  programmes  to  empower  tribal women, particularly  in  areas  of  education,  healthcare,  and  economic  independence across  the country, particularly in the State of Odisha, if so, the details thereof;

- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  Government  has  taken  any  step  to  enhance  the  representation  of  tribal  women  in  local governance and decision- making bodies, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of steps being taken by the Government to raise awareness among tribal women about their rights and available Government schemes?

## ANSWER

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

(a): 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  including  tribal women. 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  wherein women are also benefitted. Various schemes of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Rural  Development and Ministry  of Health  and Family  Welfare are  specially  dedicated for  welfare and development of women. For details of these schemes, Ministry's website stcmis.gov.in may please be visited.

Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  implements  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Eklavya  Model  Residential  School (EMRS).  As on date, 476 EMRSs are functional across the country benefiting 1,33,929 students covering 264 districts in 28 States/UTs. 50% of the seats are reserved for  tribal  girls. 114  EMRSs  have  been approved  for  State  of  Odisha, of  which  108  EMRSs  have  been  sanctioned.  For  details,  Ministry's web site (nests.tribal.gov.in) may be visited.

Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  also  implements  5  scholarship  schemes. Pre-Matric and Post Matric schemes are open ended, where in every  year about 30 lakh students take benefit, of  which  about  50%  of  the beneficiaries are women. Year wise State wise details may be seen at  MoTA Dashboard (dashboard.tribal.gov.in). In National Fellowship scheme,  meant  for  pursuing  PhD,  30%  of  seats  have been  reserved for women.

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a CPSE under Ministry of Tribal  Affairs,  operates  an  exclusive  scheme  for  the  empowerment  of  Scheduled  Tribes  Women  titled Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY). Under the scheme, Scheduled Tribes women can undertake any income generation activity. NSTFDC provides loans upto 90% for projects costing upto ₹2 lakh are provided @ rate of 4% p.a. The details of disbursement made under Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY) and Number of women beneficiaries covered across country including Odisha during last 3 years :

| Financial Year   |   Amount disbursed (₹ in lakh) |   No. of Women Beneficiaries assisted |
|------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2021-22          |                         499.27 |                                   564 |
| 2022-23          |                         644.09 |                                   782 |
| 2023-24          |                         742.82 |                                  1828 |

On  15th  November  2023,  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  launched  Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) for socio- economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 states and one UT including Odisha. The mission aims to provide basic facilities including providing houses with water and electricity which improves the quality of life of tribal women.  such as improved access  to education, health and nutrition and sustainable livelihood opportunities in 3 years. The details of benefits given under the  Abhiyan scheme in Odisha since its inception is given in Annexure-I . 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 benefiting  more  than  5  crore  tribals  in  549  districts  and  2,911 blocks in  30  States/UTs including Odisha in 5 years. Each 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.  As the mission aims to provide 20 lakh houses under PMAY for tribal families with  electricity, water, toilet and gas connection, which would improve quality of life of tribal women.

- (b): In view of (a), does not arise.

(c) & (d): Ministry of Panchayati Raj has informed that 'Panchayat", being "Local Government", is a State subject and part of State List of Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. Accordingly,  all  matters  relating  to  Panchayats  fall  within  the purview of State Government.

Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-  third reservation for women out of 'total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat' and total number of offices of chairpersons  in  the  Panchayats  at  each  level'.  However,  21  States and 2 Union Territories have gone even further and have made provisions  of  50%  reservation  for  women  in  Panchayati  Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules. In respect of remaining States and Union Territories, Constitutional provision as prescribed in Article 243D (i.e. not less than one -third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions) applies.

Further,  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  holds  extensive  exercise  of capacity  building of  Elected Representatives, including  Elected Women Representatives, through the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. This Ministry focuses on developing the capacity of Elected Women Representatives of Panchayats  to  enable  them  to  function  effectively  in  Gram  Panchayats  and  properly  discharge  their leadership  roles.  The  Ministry  has  also  been  encouraging  increased  involvement  of  women  in  the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats.

The  Ministry  has  also  issued  advisories  to  States  to  facilitate  holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings. Advisories have also been issued to States for enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women- centric activities.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs extends support to the State Governments through the scheme 'Support to Tribal Research Institute'  (TRI)  to  strengthen  Tribal  Research  Institutes  (TRIs) research  & documentation, Organization  of  tribal  festivals, exchange  visits,  Adi  Mahotsav,  traditional  knowledge  and  practices. Some of the projects sanctioned under the scheme 'Support to TRI' relating to  empowerment  of  tribal women are given in Annexure-II . For details of these projects Ministry website (https://tribal.nic.in/Display\_Apex\_Minutes.aspx) may be visited.

The details of benefits given under PM JANMAN (as on 21.11.2024) in Odisha

| Ministry   | Intervention                | Sanctions              | Financial sanctions (in Rs. cr)   |
|------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| MoRD       | Pucca houses                | 28757 houses           | 263.72                            |
| MoRD       | Connecting roads            | 147.87 Km road         | 149.75                            |
| MoJS       | Piped Water Supply          | 525 villages saturated | Not Available                     |
| MoHFW      | Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) | 50 MMUs sanctioned     | 16.94                             |
| MoWCD      | Anganwadi Centers (AWCs)    | 90 AWCs                | 14.64                             |
| MoE        | Hostels                     | 30 Hostels             | 82.50                             |
| MoP        | Energization of HHs         | 1326 HHs               | 0                                 |
| MNRE       | Energization of HHs         | -                      | -                                 |
| DoT, MoC   | Mobile towers               | 130 habitations        | 13.5                              |
| MoTA       | Multipurpose Centres (MPCs) | 61 MPCs                | 24.64                             |
| MoTA       | Setting up of VDVKs         | 43 VDVKs               | 1.7765                            |

Annex  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (c)  &  (d)  of  Lok  Sabha Unstarred Question No.1779 for answer  on  05.12.2024  raised  by  Smt.  Aparajita  Sarangi  regarding  'Empowerment  of  Tribal Women'

| State Name        | Project Name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ASSAM             | Workshop on Tribal Women, Empowerment Enterpreneurship                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| CHHATTISGARH      | Evaluation Studies - Evaluation of tribal development scheme taken up for women empowerment in the state                                                                                                                                                   |
| CHHATTISGARH      | Evaluation Studies - Study of tribal women with respect to menstrual hygiene, knowledge practices and behavioral patterns related to it.                                                                                                                   |
| CHHATTISGARH      | Prevalence and Screening of RCH in the KAMAR and BAIGA tribal women (Age 15-45 yr) focus will be on cancer screening and other Gynecological disease ( Baiga - Kabirdaham , Gaurella-Pendra- Marwahi (GPM) Dist.) ( Kamar - Gariyaband&Dhamtari Dist.) |
| GUJARAT           | A Study on Women Empowerment and Poverty alleviation through Micro credit Self Help Groups in Tribal of Tapi District                                                                                                                                      |
| JAMMU AND KASHMIR | Skill Development of Tribal Women                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| JHARKHAND         | Study on existing nature of Right's of tribal women in Jharkhand with reference to land-socio-economy                                                                                                                                                      |
| JHARKHAND         | Study of Tribal Women and Girls of Jharkhand in Sports-Extending Limits to Physical Expression, Establishing Identity, Honour Economic Security                                                                                                            |
| KERALA            | Leadership and Empowerment Training Programme for the Elected Women Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Kerala.                                                                                                                                             |
| KERALA            | National Seminar on the Contemporary Socio Cultural Scenario of Tribal Women in India Challenges and prospects                                                                                                                                             |
| MADHYA PRADESH    | Study of Anaemia in Tribal pregnant women and foster mother                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ODISHA            | Capacity Building Training to Tribal Women SHG members on Value Addition and Food                                                                                                                                                                          |
| ODISHA            | Capacity Building Training of Tribal Women SHG Members on Value Addition of Mahua(100 Tribal Women representing 25 SHG groups in 3 batches) in collaboration with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology(OUAT)                                    |
| ODISHA            | Capacity Building Training to 2 Batches of Tribal Women SHG members on Value Addition and Food Processing of Minor Forest Produces                                                                                                                         |
| ODISHA            | Impact of FRA in Life and Livelihood of Women Headed Households including Widows- Sate Initiative, Success Story, Issue and Way Forward                                                                                                                    |
| SIKKIM            | Empirical study on tribal women in Sikkim with special focus on education, healthcare and economic activities practices by the tribal women of Sikkim                                                                                                      |

| TELANGANA   | Video Documentation of Sri Gussadi Kanaka Raju, Padmasree Awardee and other Tribal achievers from PVTGs and Tribal women                                 |
|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| TELANGANA   | Economic Impact of Kalyanalaxmi Scheme                                                                                                                   |
| TELANGANA   | Socio economic impact of ST Women sarpanches                                                                                                             |
| TELANGANA   | Workshops on Events like Poshan, Swatch Bharat, Women trafficking etc., and Development of IEC materials (Audio and Video clippings in Telugu, English). |
| TRIPURA     | Role of Tribal Women in Development of Tribal Society                                                                                                    |
| TRIPURA     | Awareness Camp I) Superstition - a curse on Tribal Society. II)Drug Addiction- A Curse of the Tribal Society III) Trafficking of Tribal Women and Child. |
| WEST BENGAL | Evaluation of Tribal Development Schemes Taken up For Women Empowerment                                                                                  |
| WEST BENGAL | A study on the Educational Status of Tribal Women of four Districts in West Bengal                                                                       |
| WEST BENGAL | Study on School Enrollment and dropout among Tribal Children of West Bengal                                                                              |

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