Lok Sabha Question No. 186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-11-30
Subject: Improving Literacy Rate among Tribal Girls
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NISHIKANT  DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 186

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015

## IMPROVING LITERACY RATE AMONG TRIBAL GIRLS

## 186. SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether improvement in the literacy rate of tribal girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and benefit from socio-economic development;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken any specific steps to provide education and to improve the literacy rate among the tribal girls in the country;
- (c) if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has identified low literacy tribal districts in the country and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise including Jharkhand; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)

- (a): Yes, Madam.
- (b)  &  (c):  The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  schemes  specifically  for  tribal  boys  &  girls  to improve their literacy.  Special emphasis is made in extending the benefits of these schemes to Tribal Girls.  The details of the schemes are at Annexure-I. Ministry of Human Resource Development have universal  programme  of  education  namely  Sarva  Siksha  Abhiyan,  RMSA,  RVSA,  etc.  and  a  special programme for residential schools for girls, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya.
- (d) & (e): Yes, Madam.  The number of districts with 25% or more Scheduled Tribes having less than 35% ST female literacy were 54 as per Census 2001 and they have come down to 17 as per Census 2011. List of low literacy districts is at Annexure-II and II A .  The Government of India is implementing a scheme of 'Strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls in a low literacy Districts'.   The details of the Scheme is at Annexure-I .

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## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) - (c) and (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.186 for answer on 30.11.2015 tabled by SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY, MP, regarding 'Improving Literacy Rate among Tribal Girls'.

For improving the literacy level of STs, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing following schemes. Details of these schemes are briefly as below:

- (i) Scheme of Girls & Boys Hostels for STs: Under the scheme, Central  assistance is  given to States/UTs/Universities  for  construction  of  new  hostel  buildings  and/or  extension  of  existing hostels. The State Governments are eligible for 100% central share for construction of all Girls' hostel and also for construction of Boys' hostel in naxal affected areas (identified by Ministry of Home  Affairs  from  time  to  time).  The  funding  pattern  for  the  other  Boys'  Hostel  to  State Governments is on 50:50 basis.
- (ii) Scheme of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Area: The objective of the scheme is to provide residential schools for STs in an environment conducive to learning to increase the literacy rate among the tribal students and to bring them at par with other population of the country.  The State Governments are eligible for 100% central share for construction of all Girls' Ashram Schools and also for construction of Boys' Ashram Schools in naxal affected areas (identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time). The funding pattern for the other Boys' Ashram Schools is on 50:50 basis, while cent percent assistance is given to UTs for construction of both Girls and Boys' Ashram Schools.
- (iii) Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students: This scholarship is given to scheduled tribes students studying in class IX and X.  This Scheme covers all ST students whose parent's annual income is below Rs. 2 Lacs.  Scholarship of Rs. 150 per month for day scholars and Rs. 350 per month for hostellers are given for a period of 10 months in a year.
- (iv) The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme: This scheme is open to all ST students and is given to enable  them  to  pursue  higher  studies  at  Post  Matriculation  level  including  technical  and professional studies.  This Scheme covers all ST students whose parents annual income is below Rs.  2,50,000/-.  Compulsory  fees  charged  by  the  educational  institutions  are  reimbursed  and scholarship  amount of Rs. 230 per month to Rs. 1200 per month are given depending on the courses of study.
- (v) Upgradation of Merit: Through this scheme, remedial and special coaching is provided to ST students in Classes IX to XII.  Special coaching is also provided to ST students with a view to prepare  them  for  competitive  examinations  for  seeking  entry  into  professional  courses  like engineering, medicines etc.
- (vi) National  Overseas  Scholarship  Scheme  for  higher  studies  abroad: This  scheme  provides financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD and Post Doctoral study abroad.  There are 17 awards for scheduled tribe students and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups.    The  selected  students  are  given  tuition  and  other educational fees charged by the foreign universities, maintenance and other grants  along with travel expenses.  This fellowship is given to the students whose total annual income along with the income of the parents doesn't exceed Rs. 6 Lacs.
- (vii) National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education for ST Students. This scheme consists of the following two sub-schemes:

Scheme of Top Class Education for ST students: This scholarship is given to ST students for pursuing  studies  at  degree  at  Post  Graduate  level  in  any  of  the  158  identified  institutions  of excellence such as IITs, NIITs, IIMs etc.  scholarships are given every year to meritorious students whose family income doesn't exceed Rs. 4.5 Lacs per year.  Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer etc.

Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for ST students: Under this scheme 667 fellowships are provided to the ST students each year for pursuing higher studies in India for MPhil and PhD. Fellowship amount varies from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 28,000 per month for a period of 2 to 5 years.

- (viii) Scheme of Vocational Training in Tribal Areas: The main aim of the Scheme is to develop the skills of the ST youth for a variety of jobs as well as self-employment and to improve their socioeconomic condition by enhancing their income.  Free vocational training facilities are extended only to tribal youth 100% grants under the scheme are provided to the states, Union Territories and other Associations implementing the Scheme.
- (ix) Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts:

Low female literacy among STs being a particular concern, the gender-specific scheme of 'Setting up Educational Complex in Low Literacy Pockets for development of Women's Literacy in Tribal Areas' introduced in 1993-94, was revised in 2008-09 and renamed as ' Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts '.

The scheme is being implemented in 54 identified low literacy Districts where the ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate is below 35%, or its fractions, as per 2001 census. The number of these districts has come down to 17 as per Census 2011. Any other tribal block in a district, other than aforesaid    54   identified    districts, which fulfill the same criteria for tribal population  and  ST  female  literacy  rate,  are  also  covered.  The  areas  inhabited  by  Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas are given priority. As per the 2011 census, the number of low literacy districts have come down to 17.

Ministry provides 100% assistance which includes free education, boarding and lodging, books, uniforms, medical help, coaching, incentives to girls, periodical awards, etc.

- (x) EKLAVYA MODEL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS (EMRSs) with the capacity of 480 students in each school are set up in the States/ UTs under the programme under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India on the pattern of Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (RPVVs) of Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas. The objective of these interventions is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and get jobs in government and public and private sectors, but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.  A total of 213 EMRSs have been sanctioned by the Ministry across the country so far.

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.186 for answer on 30.11.2015 tabled by SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY, MP, regarding 'Improving Literacy Rate among Tribal Girls'.

|   Sl. No. | Name of State/Union Territory        | Name of the District   |   Percentage of Scheduled Tribe population in the district |   Tribal Female Literacy rate in the District |
|-----------|--------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) | Khammam                |                                                      26.47 |                                          27.6 |
|         2 | Jammu &Kashmir                       | Rajouri                |                                                      33.12 |                                          26   |
|         3 |                                      | Punch                  |                                                      39.99 |                                          28.3 |
|         4 | Rajasthan                            | Dungarpur              |                                                      65.14 |                                          21.8 |
|         5 |                                      | Banswara               |                                                      72.27 |                                          18.9 |
|         6 |                                      | Udaipur                |                                                      47.86 |                                          25.7 |
|         7 | Arunachal Pradesh                    | Tawang                 |                                                      74.99 |                                          26.4 |
|         8 |                                      | East Kameng            |                                                      86.71 |                                          24.5 |
|         9 |                                      | Lower Subansiri        |                                                      90.09 |                                          33.4 |
|        10 |                                      | Tirap                  |                                                      83.66 |                                          22.8 |
|        11 | Nagaland                             | Mon                    |                                                      93.92 |                                          35.4 |
|        12 | Tripura                              | Dhalai                 |                                                      54.02 |                                          33.3 |
|        13 | Jharkhand                            | Sahibganj              |                                                      29.15 |                                          15.5 |
|        14 |                                      | Pakaur                 |                                                      44.59 |                                          13.1 |
|        15 |                                      | Dumka                  |                                                      39.89 |                                          21.7 |
|        16 |                                      | Pashimi                |                                                      53.36 |                                          23.7 |
|        17 |                                      | Singhbhum              |                                                      27.85 |                                          31.3 |
|        18 |                                      | Lohardaga              |                                                      55.7  |                                          32   |
|        19 | Odisha                               | Gajapati               |                                                      50.78 |                                          14.8 |
|        20 |                                      | Kandhamal              |                                                      51.96 |                                          26.9 |
|        21 |                                      | Nuapada                |                                                      34.71 |                                          16.2 |
|        22 |                                      | Kalahandi              |                                                      28.65 |                                          17.2 |
|        23 |                                      | Rayagada               |                                                      55.76 |                                          10.1 |
|        24 |                                      | Nabarangapur           |                                                      55.03 |                                          11.1 |
|        25 |                                      | Koraput                |                                                      49.61 |                                           8.4 |
|        26 |                                      | Malkangiri             |                                                      57.43 |                                           7.5 |
|        27 |                                      | Debgarh                |                                                      33.6  |                                          31.2 |
|        28 |                                      | Keonjhar               |                                                      44.5  |                                          26   |
|        29 |                                      | Mayurbhanj             |                                                      56.6  |                                          23.5 |
|        30 |                                      | Balangir               |                                                      20.63 |                                          25.5 |
|        31 | Chhattisgarh                         | Surguja                |                                                      54.6  |                                          35.6 |
|        32 |                                      | Korba                  |                                                      41.5  |                                          33.7 |
|        33 |                                      | Bastar                 |                                                      66.31 |                                          23.1 |
|        34 |                                      | Dantewada              |                                                      78.51 |                                          13.4 |
|        35 |                                      | Bilaspur               |                                                      19.87 |                                          35.5 |
|        36 | Madhya Pradesh                       | Umaria                 |                                                      44.05 |                                          30.4 |
|        37 |                                      | Shehdol                |                                                      44.48 |                                          31   |
|        38 |                                      | Sidhi                  |                                                      29.89 |                                          21.6 |
|        39 |                                      | Ratlam                 |                                                      25.89 |                                          27.7 |
|        40 |                                      | Jhabua                 |                                                      86.85 |                                          19.4 |

|   41. |                     | Dhar                |   54.50 |   24.2 |
|-------|---------------------|---------------------|---------|--------|
|    42 |                     | West Nimar          |   35.48 |   31.8 |
|    43 |                     | Barwani             |   67.01 |   19.7 |
|    44 |                     | East Nimar          |   29.68 |   22.2 |
|    45 |                     | Betul               |   39.41 |   34   |
|    46 |                     | Harda               |   26.63 |   24.7 |
|    47 |                     | Dindori             |   66.48 |   34   |
|    48 |                     | Mandla              |   57.23 |   35.7 |
|    49 | Gujarat             | Dahod               |   72.26 |   24.6 |
|    50 |                     | Panchmahals         |   27.45 |   29.2 |
|    51 |                     | Vadodara            |   26.56 |   25.4 |
|    52 | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | Dadra &Nagar Haveli |   62.24 |   27   |
|    53 | Maharashtra         | Nandurbar           |   65.53 |   32.2 |
|    54 |                     | Dhule               |   25.97 |   35   |

Source: Census 2001

## ANNEXURE-II A

Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.186 for answer on 30.11.2015 tabled by SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY, MP, regarding 'Improving Literacy Rate among Tribal Girls'.

## Districts having Scheduled Tribe population more than 25% and female literacy rate less than 35 % as per Census 2011

| Sl. No.   | Name of District         | State/ UT    | ST Literacy Rate   | ST Literacy Rate   | ST Literacy Rate   |
|-----------|--------------------------|--------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|           |                          |              | Persons            | Male               | Female             |
| India     | India                    | India        | 58.96              | 68.53              | 49.35              |
| 1         | Reasi                    | J&K          | 39.44              | 48.37              | 29.52              |
| 2         | Sahibganj                | Jharkhand    | 39.95              | 48.82              | 31.22              |
| 3         | Pakur                    | Jharkhand    | 41.71              | 51.43              | 32.34              |
| 4         | Dakshin Bastar Dantewada | Chhattisgarh | 32.85              | 42.01              | 24.23              |
| 5         | Bijapur                  | Chhattisgarh | 34.52              | 43.25              | 25.95              |
| 6         | Alirajpur                | MP           | 32.41              | 38.22              | 26.74              |
| 7         | Jhabua                   | MP           | 37.21              | 46.67              | 27.87              |
| 8         | Burhanpur                | MP           | 38.65              | 46.29              | 30.86              |
| 9         | Barwani                  | MP           | 39.25              | 44.99              | 33.55              |
| 10        | Koraput                  | Odisha       | 35.36              | 46.2               | 25.37              |
| 11        | Malkangiri               | Odisha       | 35.23              | 44.91              | 26.25              |
| 12        | Rayagada                 | Odisha       | 36.69              | 47.87              | 26.72              |
| 13        | Nabarangapur             | Odisha       | 38.54              | 49.46              | 28.02              |
| 14        | Gajapati                 | Odisha       | 43.66              | 55.39              | 32.83              |
| 15        | Sirohi                   | Rajasthan    | 32.92              | 47.16              | 18.19              |
| 16        | Pratapgarh               | Rajasthan    | 44.67              | 58.35              | 31                 |
| 17        | Udaipur                  | Rajasthan    | 46.86              | 61.18              | 32.22              |

Source: Census 2011

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