(a) the number of tribal people living below poverty line in the country including Maharashtra; and
(b) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Union Government for poverty alleviation and industrial development of the said people along with the contribution of the State Government in the said schemes?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)
(a): As per the poverty ratios estimated by the erstwhile Planning Commission, during 2011-12 at all India level, the percentage of population of Scheduled Tribes (ST) below poverty line in rural and urban areas was 45.3% and 24.1%, respectively. The State-wise figures, including Maharashtra are given at Annexure-I.
(b): Over the years, the Central and State Governments have been taking various initiatives for socio-economic upliftment of tribal population of the country. This includes the Tribal Sub Plan Strategy (TSP Strategy) implemented since 1974-75. Government through various interventions has strategized the overall development and welfare of tribal people across the country, which takes care of necessary support for education, health, sanitation, water supply, housing, livelihood, agriculture & irrigation, skill development, etc. to improve their economic, educational and social conditions. State Governments have to earmark and spend tribal population proportion of their total Plan Funds and accordingly, States are spending funds for the poverty alleviation and industrial development of the tribal people under their respective Tribal Sub Plans. The major part of development activities is carried out through various schemes/programmes of concerned Central Ministries and the State Governments, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides additive to these initiatives by way of plugging critical gaps.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs administers two special area programmes namely Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution wherein funds are provided to 23 States and 27 States, respectively. Under these programmes, this Ministry supplements the State Tribal Sub Plan as an additive for undertaking various tribal development initiatives and for raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas with an aim to boost the economic and social status of tribal people. The grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution also cover setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). Besides, this Ministry has launched a new Central Sector Scheme ‘Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY)’ during 2014-15. The VKY has been adopted as a strategic process to ensure effective utilization of available financial resources under Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). This process envisages to ensure delivery of goods and services to the tribal population across the country while striking at the critical gaps in a targeted manner through appropriate institutional mechanism, 100% grants-in-aid is provided by Ministry of Tribal Affairs under these programmes and VKY scheme.
National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, implements schemes for self-employment of Scheduled Tribes by providing concessional financial assistance to individuals or groups of STs for undertaking Income Generation Activities. This financial assistance is extended through channelising agencies throughout India for eligible STs. Details of schemes being implemented by NSTFDC are given at Annexure-II.
Government has taken a number of other steps to provide employment and overall development of tribal population. Some of the major initiatives are as follows:
(i) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guaranteeing 150 days wage employment to ST households living in forest area who have got ‘pattas’ under the Forest Right Act 2006.
(ii) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
(iii) Indira Awaas Yojana for rural housing, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana for rural connectivity, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for social assistance to rural poor.
As informed by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, that Ministry has been implementing various central sector schemes for the promotion and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) in the country which helps in poverty alleviation and industrial development of all MSME entrepreneurs including tribal entrepreneurs. These schemes facilitate availability of credit, cluster development, infrastructure development, marketing development, enhancing competitiveness, promoting skill development and technological upgradation through the Credit Guarantee Scheme, Cluster Development Scheme, Marketing Development Assistance Scheme, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme, Skill Development Programme, Capital Linked Credit Subsidy Scheme, etc. As part of the schemes, special dispensation for financial assistance is provided for tribal MSME entrepreneurs. The schemes being central sector schemes, there is no contribution of the State Governments.