Question : GRANTS TO NGOS FOR ST STUDENTS

(a) whether the Government has received Complaints of irregularities committed by several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) regarding grants provided for tribal students for education in the entire country;

(b) if so, the details of such NGOs along with the action taken thereon;

(c) The various schemes being run by the Government at present for the educational upliftment of Scheduled Tribes (STs) under which grant is provided, scheme-wise; and

(d) the number of NGOs to which grants were provided for such schemes along with the quantam of grant provided to them by the Government during the last three years, State/UT- wise?

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

(a) & (b): The schemes being implemented by this Ministry through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)ZVoluntary Organizations (VOs) for welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the country under which grants are provided for educational projects for STs (apart from other projects) are as under:-

(i) Grants in aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes

(ii) Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts

(iii) Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTVGs) (till 31.03.3015)

No instance of misuse by NGOs/VOs of funds released by this Ministry under these schemes has been established or proven. However, certain complaints in this regard have been received against some NGOsA/Os, the details of which along with action taken thereon are given in Annex-I.

(c) In order to provide education and related facilities to ST students. Ministry of Tribai Affairs supplements the efforts of Ministry of HRD (the line Ministry) and the State Governments through following schemes in the country in addition to the three schemes mentioned in reply (a) above:-

(i) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students

(ii) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students studying in class IX & X.

(iii) Upgradation of Merit

(iv) Hostel for ST girls and boys

(v) Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub Plan Areas

(vi) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for ST students

(vii) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students

(viii) Top Class Education for ST students.

(ix) Grant under Article 275(1) of the Constitution (setting up of Eklavaya Model Residential Schools from class VI to XII for ST students is a component under this scheme).

Under the 9 schemes mentioned above, no grant-in-aid is provided to any NGOs/VOs.

(d) The State/UT-wise details of number of NGOs funded during the last three years and quantum of amount released to NGOs/VOs under three schemes mentioned in reply (a) for all projects including educational projects are as per Annex-ll.