Lok Sabha Question No. 2 (STARRED), answered on 2015-11-30
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *2 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR TRIBALS

## *2. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various social welfare schemes under implementation in the tribal areas of the country; (b) whether the cases of various diseases including water borne diseases have increased in the tribal areas over a period of time; (c) if so, the details thereof disease-wise during the last three years and the current year, State/UTwise and the reasons therefor; and (d) the remedial measures taken by the Government for the prevention of such diseases in the
- tribal areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*2 for answer on 30.11.2015 by Shri B. Sriramulu, MP

(a): The  Central  and  State  Governments  have  been  taking  various  initiatives  for  socioeconomic development of tribal population of the country. This includes Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) strategy implemented since 1974-1975. The purpose of the strategy is to channelize the flow of funds for speedier development of the Scheduled Tribes.  The Central Ministries/Departments are also  mandated  by  the  erstwhile  Planning  Commission  along  with  the  States/UTs  to  carve  out certain percentage of funds under the Centrally sponsored / Central Sector / States / UT Schemes for TSP.   The Programmes/Schemes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes are at Annexure .

(b) to (d):    The periodicity of occurrence of specific disease including water born disease is not being centrally maintained in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Government of India initiated Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) in 2004 in all States/UTs with the objective to detect and respond to disease outbreaks due to epidemic prone diseases. Under IDSP, weekly data on total number of cases for epidemic prone diseases including Water borne Diseases is collected at District level.  This data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases. Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to diagnose and control the outbreak.

Consumption of contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as Acute Diarrheal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Cholera, Viral Hepatitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.

Provision of safe drinking water is the main strategy to control diseases caused by drinking of contaminated water. Rural water supply is a State subject. Government of India supplements the  efforts  of  the  States  by  providing  technical  and  financial  assistance  under  the  centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water supply Programme (NRDWP) for providing safe and adequate drinking water supply facilities in rural areas of the country. Further, 5% of NRDWP Funds are earmarked and allocated to those States facing problems of chemical contamination in drinking water. Up to 67% of the NRDWP fund allocated to States can be utilized for tackling water quality problems in rural areas. In addition, Government of India provides 3% NRDWP funds on 100% Central assistance basis to States for water quality monitoring and surveillance , which  inter  alia  include  taking  up  works  relating  to  setting  up  of  new  or  up  gradation  of district/sub-district  water  quality  testing  laboratories,  providing  chemicals  and  consumables  to laboratories, providing field test kits/refills to Gram Panchayats etc.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  started  the  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and Control  of  Fluorosis  (NPPCF)  in  the  11 th Five  Year  Plan.  The  important  components  of  the programme are surveillance of fluorosis in the community, capacity building in the form of training and  manpower  support,  establishment  of  diagnostic  facilities,  management  of  fluorosis  cases including treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and health education.

Further, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, provides technical assistance to  State/UT  Governments  on  prevention  and  control  of  water  borne  diseases  in  carrying  out investigation of outbreaks of such diseases under Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). At  the  National  level,  NCDC  also  coordinates  laboratory  support  for  outbreak  investigations, besides conducting regular training courses for development of trained manpower.

In addition, to check water borne diseases following steps have been taken:

- i) 'Swatch Bharath' Mission for cleanliness and sanitation including construction and use of toilets;
2. ii) Collection, segregation and disposal of waste and treatment to check pollution of water bodies, etc.;
3. iii) Immunization
4. iv) Advocating simple oral rehydration therapy for treatment, etc.

……….

## Schemes being implemented by the  Ministry of Tribal Affairs

1. Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP)
2. Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution
3. Grants-in-aid  to  Voluntary  Organization  working  for  the  welfare  of  Scheduled Tribes
4. Coaching for Scheduled Tribes
5. Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts
6. Vocational Training in Tribal Areas
7. Development  of  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups  (PVTGs)(States/UT  and NGO Component)
8. Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce (Support to TRIFED and STDCCs)
9. Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor  Forest  Produce  (MFP)  through  Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP.
10. National Fellowship and Scholarship for higher education of ST students.
11. National overseas scholarship to ST students for Studies aboard.
12. Research Information & Mass Education, Tribal Festivals and Others
13.  Granit -in -aid to Tribal Research Institutes (TRI).
14.  Assistance for support of Centres of Excellence (CoE).
15.  Supporting  Projects of All-India or Inter-State nature.
13. Hostel for ST Girls & Boys( part of Umbrella Scheme on Education)
14. Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Area( part of Umbrella Scheme on Education)
15. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme ( part of Umbrella Scheme on Education)
16. Upgradation of Merit  ( part of Umbrella Scheme on Education)
17. Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students  ( part of Umbrella Scheme on Education)
18. Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana.
19. Support of National /States Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporations.

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## Annexure