Question : Rural Schemes in Tribal Areas

(a) the details of various rural development schemes being implemented by the Union Government in various tribal areas of Kerala and the scheme-wise details of funds allocated for the same;

(b) whether the Union Government proposes to provide ownership rights to the tribals living on forest lands in the rural areas in Kerala and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government has taken any decision to construct the roads and other infrastructure facilities in the said areas of Kerala especially in Muthanga and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)


(a): The Ministry of Rural Development, inter alia, is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in rural areas of the country, including tribal areas of Kerala, through State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. MGNREGA is a demand driven programme, hence, State-wise no allocation of funds is made. However, expenditure reported by the State of Kerala under MGNREGA during 2016-17 (as on 13.12.16) stands at Rs. 1567.43 crore. The funds allocated under PMAY-G, PMGSY and DAY-NRLM during the financial year 2016-17 are Rs. 182.27 crore, Rs. 180.00 crore and Rs. 6.89 crore, respectively. Under DDU-GKY, Rs. 1.39 crore has been released to Kerala during 2015-16 for skilling of rural poor youth.

In addition to this, Under DAY-NRLM a special pilot project called Attappady Comprehensive Tribal and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Project is also being implemented in the State. The project plans to mobilize all families of Irula, Muduga and Kurumba tribal communities in Attappady Block in Palakkad district of Kerala. The amount approved as central share for this project in FY 2016-17 is Rs. 5.00 crores of which Rs. 2.50 crores has been released to the State.


(b): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs administrates the Schedule Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which is commonly known as Forest Rights Act (FRA). As per FRA and rules thereunder, responsibility of implementing of the Act lies with the States/UTs. The said Act extends to whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir. As per FRA, Schedule Tribes who are residing on forest land prior to 13th December, 2005 are entitled for their forest right claim. The time limit for Other Traditional Forest Dwellers for residing on forest land prior to 13th December, 2005 is 75 years.

(c): ‘Rural Roads’ is a State subject and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network. Since inception of the PMGSY out of 1515 roads works Sanctioned for 3669 km, Kerala has reported to have completed 1155 road works of 2695 km till October, 2016. Kerala has graduated from PMGSY-I to PMGSY-II. Under PMGSY-II, Kerala has been sanctioned 84 road works of 319.948 km for upgradation.

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