Lok Sabha Question No. 203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Implementation of Welfare Schemes in Kasaragod, Kerala
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 203

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 29/01/2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF WELFARE SCHEMES IN KASARAGOD, KERALA

203. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN :

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of persistent infrastructure, health, education and livelihood gaps in tribal hamlets of Kasaragod district, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of funds released and utilised under tribal welfare schemes in Kerala during the last five years;
- (c) whether any district-specific intervention has been designed for tribal communities in Kasaragod, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether steps have been taken to ensure the effective delivery of welfare schemes at the grassroots level, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SH. DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a  &  c): The Government is aware that critical gaps persist in basic amenities, healthcare, education,  and livelihood  among  the  Scheduled  Tribe  hamlets  in  Kasaragod  district.  To  address  these  gaps  funds  for programmes/tribal  schemes  the  following  expenditure  has  been  incurred  in  the  last  five  years  in  Kasaragod District.

| TDO Kasaragod                                | TDO Kasaragod                                | TDO Kasaragod                                |
|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Year                                         | Funds Received (₹)                           | Expenditure (₹)                              |
| 2020-21                                      | 18,528,745                                   | 18,528,745                                   |
| 2021-22                                      | 20,006,021                                   | 20,006,021                                   |
| 2022-23                                      | 13,778,199                                   | 13,778,199                                   |
| 2023-24                                      | 14,528,947                                   | 14,528,947                                   |
| 2024-25                                      | 18,914,403                                   | 18,914,403                                   |
| TDO Parappa                                  | TDO Parappa                                  | TDO Parappa                                  |
| Statement of Plan, Allotment and Expenditure | Statement of Plan, Allotment and Expenditure | Statement of Plan, Allotment and Expenditure |
| Financial Year                               | Allotment (₹)                                | Expenditure (₹)                              |
| 2021-22                                      | 7,60,49,006                                  | 7,60,49,006                                  |
| 2022-23                                      | 13,64,20,288                                 | 13,64,20,288                                 |
| 2023-24                                      | 8,34,92,132                                  | 8,34,91,581                                  |
| 2024-25                                      | -                                            | 1,094                                        |
| Total                                        | -                                            | 12,02,96,823                                 |

One of the long-standing major issues faced by the tribal communities in Kerala is the lack of land ownership documents for the places where they have been residing for decades. Due to this reason, various departments are often unable to consider them for several welfare benefits.To address this fundamental issue, the District Collector took the initiative to formulate a project titled 'Operation Smile.' This project is being implemented through the Revenue Department, Survey Department, and the Scheduled Tribe Development Department. In the first phase, the project focused on the PVTG community, the Koragas . As a result of the implementation of this project, land survey has been completed for 539 families , and steps have been initiated to issue land possession certificates to them. Simultaneously, procedures have also begun to conduct land surveys for other backward communities among the Scheduled Tribes, such as the Malavettuva community .

(b & d): The details of funds released for Kerala under major schemes for Tribal Welfare by Ministry of Tribal Affairs is given below. As Kasaragod is one of the District of Kerala with tribal population, they will also be benefited.

|    |                                                              |         |          |          |         | (in lakhs)   |
|----|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------|----------|----------|---------|--------------|
|  1 | EMRS (funds released for construction and operation of EMRS) |         |   229.56 |  1515.66 | 249     | 1252         |
|  2 | Expenditure under Tribal Sub-Plan                            | 56765   | 72090    | 76832    | 53054   | 21197        |
|  3 | Funds released under Grants under Article 275(i)             |         |   817.67 |  1910.44 |         |              |
|  4 | Pre-matric funds released                                    | 116.56  |   347.07 |     0    | 436.46  | 100          |
|  5 | Post-matric funds released                                   | 3285.25 |  2516.49 |     0    | 4689.34 | 2900         |
|  6 | NSFTDC (loans given) amount in lakh                          | 298.76  |   637.3  |   720.73 | 446.74  | 684.80       |
|  7 | NGO                                                          | 120.82  |   142.81 |   129.47 | 7.52    | 186.75       |

The  effective  implementation  of  welfare  schemes  of  State  Government  including  Operation  Smile  at  the grassroots level is being ensured through ST Promoters and Tribal Extension Officers. Development and welfare activities are also being carried out through local self-government institutions, particularly the Grama Panchayats. To  see  that  government  intervention  are  functioning  effectively  as  per  objectives,  periodic  evaluation  is undertaken and schemes are re-design accordingly.

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