Lok Sabha Question No. 4018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Panchayati Raj System
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4018

ANSWERED ON 17.03.2026

## PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM

## 4018 SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of schemes being implemented to strengthen the Panchayati Raj System in thetribal areas of Gujarat;
- (b) whether Government is working on any new scheme related to rural development through Panchayati Raj in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of schemes being implemented under the Panchayati Raj System in the tribal areas so that the tribal dominated areas can become self-reliant; and
- (d) the details of the major schemes implemented in tribal dominated areas?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI RAJEEV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a)The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is implementing the (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with the primary objective of strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutes (PRIs) by way of capacity building and training of the elected representatives and the functionaries of the PRIs, (ii) Incentivization of Panchayats (IoP), a Central Components of RGSA scheme to encourage competitive spirit among Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) under which, Awards including financial incentives are given to best performing Panchayats in recognition of their good work for improving delivery of services and public good, (iii) Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayats, a Central component of RGSA scheme under which various e-governance projects are funded towards digitalization of Panchayats to bring in efficiency, accountability and transparency in the functioning of the PRIs for overall transformation of PRIs (no funds are released to States under the scheme). These schemes are implemented in all the States/UTs including the State of Gujarat and in its tribal areas.

Special focus on training in tribal areas under the RGSA scheme related to the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) are held in Scheduled Areas. For these trainings, the Ministry has developed seven training modules on seven important themes of PESA with due care that the manual are made available in tribal languages. The subjects of training include (i) Strengthening of Gram Sabha, (ii) Minor Forest Produce, (iii) Minor Minerals, (iv) Customary Mode of Dispute Resolution, (v) Control over Money Lending, (vi) Prohibition & Regulating/Restricting the Sales & Consumption of Intoxicants and (vii) Prevention of Alienation of Land.

(b) & (c) The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a number of Schemes/Programmes viz. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhyay - Gramin Kaushalya Yojana, Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin, Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana, and National Social Assistance Programme through State Governments to bring about overall rural development and improve in the quality of life of the people in rural areas in the country including the tribal areas of Gujarat. Recently, a new Act namely Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rojgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)-VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 has been enacted by the Parliament. The Act is yet to commence. Upon commencement, the provisions of the Act will be applicable to all rural areas across all States and UTs.

As per information provided by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), they are administering the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (In short FRA), wherein Gram Sabha has been entrusted with the responsibility to initiate the process of recognition of rights envisaged to be given to bonafide Forest Dweller Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs), including rights to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resources, which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.

(d) The details of Schemes/programmes being implemented by the MoTA for the development and welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the country along with brief achievements, are given in Annexure as per the information provided by the MoTA.

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4018 answered on 17.03.2026 regarding Panchayati Raj System

## Details of Schemes/programmes being implemented by the MoTA for the development and welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the country

- (i) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): A Central Sector Scheme providing quality education (Navodaya pattern) to tribal students. Nationally, 723 schools are sanctioned and 499 are functional for 1.55 lakh students; in Gujarat, 44 out of 47 sanctioned schools are functional.
- (ii) Dharti AabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA): Launched in October 2024 to saturate infrastructure gaps in 63,843 villages through 25 interventions. MoTA has already sanctioned 6,773 Ashram school/hostel projects, 78 Marketing Centres (TMMCs), and 433 FRA cells nationally.
- (iii) PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN): Focused on the socio-economic development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In Gujarat, as of January 31, 2026, achievements include 12,724 houses sanctioned, 572 villages saturated with drinking water, 6,626 households electrified, and 21 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) operationalised.
- (iv) Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): Strengthens tribal livelihoods through MSP for Minor Forest Produce (MFP). In Gujarat, ₹622.00 lakh in revolving funds has been released, and 200 VDVKs have been sanctioned, benefiting 57,968 persons.
- (v) National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC): Provides concessional loans for self-employment and education. In Gujarat, ₹2,330.64 lakh has been disbursed to 7,526 beneficiaries in the current FY 2025-26 (up to February 27, 2026).
- (vi) Forest Rights Act (FRA) Implementation: Recognition of individual and community forest rights. In Gujarat, 1,03,524 titles covering 14.09 lakh acres have been distributed, and 95% of records are digitized.
- (vii)Educational Scholarships: Financial aid via Pre-Matric and Post-Matric schemes. In FY 2025-26, ₹864.62 crore was released for Post-Matric scholarships in Gujarat for 2,20,000 students.
- (viii) Grants under Article 275(1): Infrastructure and welfare funds for Scheduled Areas. Approved Gujarat projects include 43 check dams, 101 community wells, dairy chilling centers, and various V ocational Training Centers.
- (ix) Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Funding to the TRIs to strengthen their infrastructural needs including setting up of TRI Buildings/Museums, research & documentation activities, training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal festivals, yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage, and for promoting tourism and organization of exchange visits by tribals etc., so that the tribal culture practices, languages and rituals are preserved and disseminated.

In FY 2025-26, the Ministry has issued a mother sanction of Rs.50.00 lakh to the TRIs, Gujarat for the approved projects/activities, under the scheme.

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