Lok Sabha Question No. 2488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Development of Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2488

TO BE ANSWERED ON 1.8.2016

## DEVELOPMENT OF TRIBALS

2488.  SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFARIS be pleased to state?

- (a) wheather the Government  has taken cognizance of socio- economic, educational and health status of the tribals in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether incidents/cases of attacks and exploitation of the tribal communities are on the rise in the country;
- (d) if so,the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether the access to health services is still not satisfactory for the tribals in the country and if so,the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for overall development of tribals in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFARIS (SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR)

- (a) & (b):  Yes,  Madam.  Government  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  strategy  for  overall development of tribal people across the country, which includes support for education, health,  sanitation,  water  supply,  skill  development,  livelihood,  etc.  Major  part  of infrastructure development and provision of basic amenities in tribal areas / regions in the country is carried out through various schemes / programmes of concerned Central Ministries  and  State  Governments  concerned,  while  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs provides additive to these initiatives by way of plugging critical gaps.
- (c) & (d) No such instance has been reported by State Governments /UT Administrations.

(e) Public Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to provide affordable health care services to the people including tribal population lies with State/UT Government. However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided to States /UTs to strengthen their health system including for setting up/upgrading public health facilities, augmenting health human resource on contractual basis for provision of equitable, affordable healthcare to all its citizens particularly the poor and vulnerable population including tribal population based on requirement posed by the State in their Programme Implementation Plans.

(f) All  tribal  district,  whose  composite  health  index  is  below  State  average  have  been categorized as High Priority District (HPD) and all tribal districts that are not HPDs have been designated  as  Special  Focus  District  (SFDs).  These  HPDs  receive  higher  per  capita  funding, enhanced  monitoring  and  focussed  supportive  supervision.  Further  the  HPDs  and  SFDs  are encouraged to adopt innovative approaches to address their peculiar health challenges. Technical support from all sources is being harmonised and aligned with NHM particularly in these districts to  support  implementation  of  key  priority  intervention  packages.  Norms  for  Tribal  areas  for establishing health facilities, Human resource, ASHAs, MMUs etc. are comparatively relaxed.

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