Question : SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF STs

(a) the details of the major schemes/programmes implemented by his Ministry for socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the country during the Eleventh Five Year Plan;

(b) the targets fixed and the achievement made under various schemes, scheme-wise;

(c) the amount allocated and spent on each project/scheme of the Government during the said period; and

(d) the details of the new schemes likely to be introduced by the Government during the Twelfth Plan and the steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI V. KISHORE CHANDRA DEO)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question 103 for answer on 30.11.2012 regarding “Socio-Economic Development of STs”.

(a) to (c): The socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes(STs), like the rest of the population in the country is the mandate of all line Ministries in Government of India, and the State Governments. Ministry of Tribal Affairs steps in to fill critical gaps so that the ST population is not left at a disadvantage. The details of the major programmes/schemes by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are as under:-

I. Special Central Assistanceto Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP): an additive to Tribal Sub Plan of the State plan of the 22 TSP States, to boost income-generation programmes to Below Poverty Line(BPL) ST families.
XI Plan allocation: Rs. 4673.72crore; Release:Rs.3849.44crore.
  II. Grant under Article 275(1) of the Constitution for India:to raise the level of Administration in Scheduled areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, in 26 States, to bridge the gap in critical infrastructure sectors.
  XI Plan allocation: Rs. 4059.00 crore; Release: Rs.3213.87 crore.
III. Schemes for Education of STs:
# Hostels for Scheduled Tribes Girls and Boys:for construction/modification of hostel buildings.
XI Plan allocation: Rs.323.00 crore; Release: Rs. 322.00crore.
  # Establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub Plan Area:for residential schools to increase the literacy rates in tribal students.
  XI Planallocation:Rs.241.00 crore; Release: Rs. 231.00crore.
# Post-Matric Scholarships for ST students:for post matriculation recognized courses.
  XI Plan allocation: Rs.1953.72crore; Release: Rs. 2118.44crore.
The other educational schemes for benefits of STs are- Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme, National Overseas Scholarships Scheme for Scheduled Tribe, Top Class Education for ST students, Strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls in Low Literacy Districts, Coaching for STs, Upgradation of Merit of ST students.

IV. Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs):provides funding for the survival, protection and overall development of PTGs as per the long term “Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) Plan” prepared by States/UTs.
XI. Plan allocation: Rs.802.00 crore; Released: Rs. 797.26crore.
V. Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organisations (VOs)for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes:to supplement the efforts of the State and fill the gaps in service deficient tribal areas through VOs.

XI Plan allocation: Rs.243.00crore Released: Rs. 226.72crore

The other schemes of the Ministry are - Support to National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, Support to Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd., Grants-in-Aid to State Tribal Development Corporative Corporations etc. for Minor Forest Produce Operations.

(d): In the XII Plan, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has already launched a new scheme of the Pre-Matric Scholarship meant for providing scholarship to ST students studying in Classes IX & X with effect from 1st July, 2012. ST students studying on full time basis and whose parents’ annual income does not exceed Rs. 2.00 lakh are eligible to avail the scholarship. The scheme is being implemented through State Governments/UT Administrations, which will receive 100% Central assistance for this purpose.

Hon’ble Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech this year announced a scheme to ensure that people belonging to STs can get fair and remunerative price for the forest produce they collect. Accordingly, a new scheme of Minimum Support Price(MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) in respect of 13 important MFPs is envisaged. This is on the basis of report of Dr. T. Haque Committee constituted by Ministry of Panchayati Raj to look into aspects of Minimum Support Price, Value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce in Fifth Schedule Areas.