Lok Sabha Question No. 3424 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Livelihood Issues among Scheduled Tribes
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## 3424. Shri Benny Behanan:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the unemployment rate among Scheduled Tribes in the country including Kerala, during the last five years, State and year-wise;
- (b) whether traditional tribal livelihoods such as agriculture, collection of minor forest produce and handicrafts are declining and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of skill development and employment schemes implemented for Scheduled Tribes in Kerala, scheme-wise; and
- (d) the outcomes achieved under the said schemes, including the number of beneficiaries and employment generated thereunder?

## ANSWER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3424

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12 th  MARCH, 2026

## Livelihood Issues among Scheduled Tribes

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

- (a):  As  per  the  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme Implementation, the estimate of unemployment rate among Schedule Tribes (STs), at the all-India level including Kerala, for the survey period 2019-20 to 2023-24 is given below:
- (b) to (d): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements various schemes through its organizations including Tribal Cooperative Marketing  Development  Federation of  India  Limited  (TRIFED)  and  National  Scheduled  Tribes

| PLFS Survey periodUnemployment Rate (in percent)   |   PLFS Survey periodUnemployment Rate (in percent) |
|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20                                            |                                                3.4 |
| 2020-21                                            |                                                2.7 |
| 2021-22                                            |                                                2.4 |
| 2022-23                                            |                                                1.8 |
| 2023-24                                            |                                                1.9 |

Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) for promoting livelihood opportunities, skill development and entrepreneurship among Scheduled Tribes across the country including Kerala.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs through TRIFED is implementing Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) for livelihood driven tribal development and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) for protection and development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Under PMJVM, tribal Self-Help Groups are organized into Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) for value addition, processing, packaging, branding and marketing of Minor Forest Produce and other tribal products. Till date, TRIFED has sanctioned 4125 VDVKs with a financial outlay of ₹612.13 crore, benefiting about 12.33 lakh tribal beneficiaries in 25 States and 3 Union Territories. Out of this, 44 VDVKs with a financial outlay of ₹597.25 lakh associated  with  about  12,038  members  have  been  sanctioned  in  the  State  of  Kerala.  Similarly,  under  PMJANMAN, TRIFED has sanctioned 539 VDVKs with a financial outlay of ₹22.98 crore, benefiting about 45,958 PVTG members across 16 States and 1 Union Territory. Out of these, 7 VDVKs have been sanctioned in Kerala, associating 537 members with a sanctioned amount of ₹26.85 lakh.

Further,  NSTFDC,  an  apex  organization  under  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  provides  concessional financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries for undertaking income generating activities and self-employment. The major schemes implemented include Term Loan Scheme, Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY), Micro Credit Scheme for Self Help Groups (MCF) and Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY). These schemes provide financial support for income generation, entrepreneurship development and education of Scheduled  Tribe  beneficiaries.  During  the  last  three  financial  years  and  the  current  financial  year  up  to 28.02.2026, NSTFDC has disbursed loans amounting to ₹1,198.40 crore assisting 2,95,154 beneficiaries across the country out of which ₹23.33 crores have been disbursed in the state of Kerala under its Income Generation Scheme assisting 2209 beneficiaries.

Further, under the Skill India Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provides skill development, re-skilling and up-skilling training through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), benefiting all sections of society including Scheduled Tribes in the State of Kerala.

Under PMKVY, a total of 8,13,357 ST candidates have been trained across the country up to 31.12.2025. In Kerala, 2,698 ST candidates have been trained, 1,812 certified, and 202 candidates reported placed under the Short-Term Training component. Under the JSS Scheme, 4,50,211 ST candidates have been trained across the country  up  to  31.12.2025,  including  5,405  ST  candidates  in  Kerala.  Further,  under  NAPS-2,  1,65,608  ST apprentices have been engaged across the country during FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (up to December 2025), of which 5,875 ST apprentices have been engaged in Kerala.

Under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) implemented through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), long-term vocational training is imparted to create a skilled workforce. In the State of Kerala, there are 442 ITIs, including  149  Government  ITIs  and  293  Private  ITIs,  which  provide  skill  training  to  youth  including  those belonging to Scheduled Tribes.

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