MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA)
(a): The present literacy rate among the Scheduled Tribes (STs) indicating the break-up of male and female literacy rates and its comparison vis-a-vis the overall literacy rate in the country, State/UT-wise; is given at Annexure-I.
(b): Yes, Madam.
(c) & (d): The Government has enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and launched Saakshar Bharat, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, to raise the literacy level, in the age group of 6-14 years and 15 years and above, respectively in the country. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which is the main vehicle for implementation of the provisions of the RTE Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory elementary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years including tribal girls. Under SSA programme, 109 tribal concentrated districts have been identified to focus programmatic interventions. 12% of the total outlay for SSA is targetted to these 109 tribal concentrated districts in 2014-15.
To improve the enrolment rates of tribal children, SSA provides for opening of new schools, construction of school buildings, construction of additional classrooms, additional teachers as per Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR), Kasturaba Ghandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), free textbooks to all children from classes I-VII, free uniforms (two sets) to all girls and children belonging to SC/ST/BPL. Several others interventions, such as residential schools/hostels, escort/transport facilities, special training for out-of-school children to be mainstreamed to age-appropriate classes, and multi-lingual education with focus on home language are being implemented along with awareness campaigns and local community participation in school management in order to bring more and more tribal children into the fold of education.
Saakshar Bharat, the new variant of National Literacy Mission, primary focuses on adult non-literate women of rural areas of 410 eligible districts (adult female literacy rate below 50 per cent as per Census 2001 and all Left Wing Extremism Affected districts irrespective of literacy rate) with the principal target of imparting functional literacy to 70 million adults including 8 million STs in the age group of 15 years and beyond.
The funds released under Saakshar Bharat during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise is at Annexure-II.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been implementing a specific scheme for ST girls Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts. The other schemes of this Ministry which promote education among Scheduled Tribes children are: (i) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) with an objective to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribes, (ii) Scheme of Construction of Hostels for ST Girls and Boys, (iii) Scheme of Establishment of Ashram School in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas, (iv) Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students, (v) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students studying in classes IX & X (i.e. 01.07.2012), (vi) Vocational Training in Tribal Areas(States component) (vii) National Overseas scholarship (NOS), (viii) Top Class Education and (ix) Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) A statement of funds released and utilized under such schemes during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise, is given at Annexures-III to XI.
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