(a) whether the Government have considered or proposes to consider the factors augmenting and interrupting the dissemination of education in the tribal areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the provision made to strengthen education as well as employment oriented education in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) dominated districts having low literacy rate;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the literacy rate/ percentage of STs in the country, State/ UT-wise?
(a)& (b): Government is committed to provide quality education to all citizens, including tribal people. A large number of steps have been taken in this regard. Factors which hinder the pace of dissemination of education among STs are remoteness of their location, scattered habitations, geographic terrain, language barrier, availability of trained teachers knowing local dialects etc.
(c) &(d) Government has been implementing a number of interventions to strengthen education including employment oriented education in the country:
(i) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) are set up with capacity of 480 students per school to provide quality middle, Secondary and higher secondary education to ST students.
(ii) Support is given to voluntary organisations running schools for ST students in areas where such facilities are not available.
(iii) Funds are provided under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) and Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution are given to State Governments inter-alia for various educational initiatives including skill development and vocational training of tribal people.
(iv) Language primers are developed for tribal children to bridge the language barrier.
(v) Toilets for students especially girl students are funded.
(vi) The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides free and compulsory elementary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years including ST children.
(vii) Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) scheme provides for residential schools for girls at upper primary level; seats reserved for minority, SC, ST and OBC girls.
(viii) Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship, National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students and Scholarship for Studies Abroad are given to ST students by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
(ix) ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ of Ministry of Human Resource Development, is an integrated scheme of school education wherein financial assistance is provided to States/Union Territories for setting up residential schools / hostels. The scheme reaches out to girls and children belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), minority communities and transgender.
(x) Navodaya Vidyalayas are residential schools that impart good quality modern education to rural talented children irrespective of their socio-economic background including ST children.
(xi) University Grants Commission (UGC) contributes towards employment oriented education among STs by the way of coaching schemes in Universities and Colleges such as coaching for NET / SET, coaching classes for entry in services and remedial coaching schemes.
(xii) Scope of education for all children including tribal children is constantly reviewed and expanded to include sports, physical education, work education, vocational education, Tribal Art, crafts etc. to make the school education useful, relevant and interesting for the children and tribal communities.
The details of the funds released to the State Governments / implementing agencies under various schemes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Scheduled Tribe Component(STC) funds of Department of Higher Education and Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development is at Annexure– 1.
(e) The State-wise literacy rate of STs in the country is at Annexure - 2.
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Annexure - 1
Annexure - 1 referred to in reply to part (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †4723 for answer on 22.7.2019.
(Rs. in lakh)
S.No. Name of Scheme 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
1. Grants under Article 275(1) and Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) 125385.65 159329.26 141135.80
2. Post Matric Scholarship for ST students 155567.36 146386.79 164698.00
3. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students 8416.64 29408.03 31150.00
4. National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 8000.00 9973.00 9998.00
5. National Overseas scholarship (NOS) for ST students 39.00 100.00 200.00
6. Vocational Training in Tribal Areas funded through Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of STs 148.68 446.66 217.62
7. Scheme of Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy 6544.88 4628.76
2265.18
8. Scheme for Construction of Hostels for ST Girls and Boys 2000.00 700.00 -
9. Scheme of Ashram Schools 0.00 700.00 -
Total 306102.21
351672.5
349664.6
Ministry of Human Resource & Development has made the following expenditure under the ST Component during the last 3 years:
(Rs. in crore)
Department / Ministry 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Department of Higher Education 1231.12 1379.60 1251.48
Department of School Education & Literacy 4343.98 4901.86 4924.65
Total: 5576.03
6281.46
6176.13
Annexure - 2
Annexure - 2 referred to in reply to part (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †4723 for answer on 22.7.2019.
Sl. No. State / UT Literacy Rate
INDIA 59
1 Jammu & Kashmir 50.6
2 Himachal Pradesh 73.6
3 Uttarakhand 73.9
4 Rajasthan 52.8
5 Uttar Pradesh 55.7
6 Bihar 51.1
7 Sikkim 79.7
8 Arunachal Pradesh 64.6
9 Nagaland 80
10 Manipur 72.6
11 Mizoram 91.5
12 Tripura 79.1
13 Meghalaya 74.5
14 Assam 72.1
15 West Bengal 57.9
16 Jharkhand 57.1
17 Odisha 52.2
18 Chhattisgarh 59.1
19 Madhya Pradesh 50.6
20 Gujarat 62.5
21 Daman & Diu 78.8
22 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 61.9
23 Maharashtra 65.7
24 Telangana 49.5
25 Andhra Pradesh 48.8
26 Karnataka 62.1
27 Goa 79.1
28 Lakshadweep 91.7
29 Kerala 75.8
30 Tamil Nadu 54.3
31 A & N Islands 75.6