Parliament Question: Convergence of Tribal Welfare Schemes with State Initiatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 6308 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 02/04/2026 CONVERGENCE OF TRIBAL WELFARE SCHEMES WITH STATE INITIATIVES 6308. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has received proposals from Tamil Nadu seeking convergence of Central tribal welfare schemes with State initiatives such as the Tholkudi-Ainthinai programme aimed at improving amenities and livelihoods in tribal areas, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of funds sanctioned and released for housing, scholarships and skill development programmes for tribal communities including Narikurava and other Scheduled Tribe groups in Tamil Nadu during the last three years; (c) whether any targeted skill development or youth livelihood programmes covering tribal youth in the western districts of Tamil Nadu are under consideration, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen coordination with States to improve implementation of tribal welfare schemes? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a) to (d): The Government is implementing Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) as a strategy for the development of Scheduled Tribes and areas having tribal concentration in the country including the State of Tamil Nadu. Besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 41 Ministries/Departments are allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development under DAPST to bridge the developmental gap between Scheduled Tribes (STs) and non-ST populations and for various tribal development projects relating to education, health, agriculture, irrigation, roads, housing, electrification, employment generation, skill development, etc. Schemes along-with funds allocated by the obligated Ministries/Departments for the welfare ofScheduled Tribes are given at Statement 10B of Expenditure Profile of Union Budget document in the link: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/stat10b.pdf. The State Governments are also supposed to earmark TSP funds with respect to the total Scheme allocation, in proportion to ST population (Census 2011) in the State. The details of allocation and expenditure for TSP by States/UTs out of their own funds are available at https://statetsp.tribal.gov.in. As informed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, Tholkudi Aithinai Program is a 100% State funded Scheme. The Scheme specifically aims at improving the livelihoods in Tribal areas. The State funds are allocated for Agri and Allied livelihoods viz., On farm activities for promoting sustainable agriculture development and agricultural livelihoods such as horticultural production, multi crop production, honey bee farming, mushroom cultivation, cash crop production, casava production, Off Farm activities for strengthening forest, livestock based enterprises, fishing etc and Non-farm activities as skill development training for Tribal youth, building self-sufficient societies, procurement of agri machinery, construction of agri machinery sheds etc. The State has entered into MoU with various Institutes such as IIMR, IIHR, TANUVAS, Annamalai University, NBFGR, CIAE, NRCB and CTCRI and the State allocates funds to these Institutes for implementing livelihood schemes under Tribal Sub Plan of these Institutes. Further, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has allocated funds for Tribal Multi-Purpose Marketing towards implementing livelihood activities. The Ministry has also sanctioned funds for 45 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra with 50% of State Share. Further, Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing various schemes/programmes for the welfare and development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the country. The details of the schemes/programmes is given at Annexure I. The details of fund allocations made during recent financial years by the Ministry under these schemes/programmes is given at Annexure II. The Ministry has undertaken two missions for development of STs through convergence of funds available with different Ministries/Departments under DAPST namely - Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA). PM JANMAN: Government launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) for socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 states and one UT. The mission aims to provide basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and improved access to education, health and nutrition, roadand telecom connectivity, electrification of unelectrified households and sustainable livelihood opportunities in 3 years. These objectives are planned to be met through 11 interventions including Hostels and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) implemented by 9-line Ministries. PM JANMAN has total budgetary outlay of Rs.24,104 Cr (Central share: ₹15336 Cr and State share: ₹8768 Cr). Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) : The Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health, education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities etc benefiting more than 5 crore tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. The Abhiyan has total budgetary outlay of Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr and State share: ₹22,823 Cr). As informed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu, under Tholkudi Umbrella Scheme has allocated and spent funds for Housing for Tribals for the past three years as follows: 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 No. of Amount (in No. of Amount (in No. of Amount Houses crores) Houses crores) Houses (in crores) 1500 79.28 750 40.33 1200 52.68 Under Tholkudi umbrella Scheme, Skill Development Training such as Two Wheeler Technician, General Duty Assistant, Beautician courses, CNC Training, Welding, etc. for 1000 Tribal youth are being conducted through empanelled training partners of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Training Centre. State of Tamil Nadu has so far conducted Skill Developoment Training for around 797 Tribal youth in the Western Districts. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs coordinates with State Governments, including the Government of Tamil Nadu, through multiple mechanisms to promote inclusive growth in education, skill development and livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribes. The Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) scheme is implemented through the NationalEducation Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) under the Ministry, which works in coordination with State Governments through designated State implementing agencies for establishment and management of EMRSs. TRIFED is the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme PMJVM scheme and TRIFED implements the scheme either directly or indirectly through the State Implementing Agencies (SIAs) as per scheme guidelines. Under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST), various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India implement their respective schemes through the corresponding State implementing agencies. Under DAJGUA, committees have been constituted at the State, District and Block levels for effective implementation, coordination and monitoring of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. These include a State-Level Apex Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, District-Level Committees chaired by District Collectors and Block-Level Implementation Teams to facilitate implementation at the grassroots level. Periodic review meetings are conducted under the framework of DAPST to review the allocation and expenditure under various schemes by the obligated Ministries/Departments.Annexure I Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6308 for 02.04.2026 by Dr. T Sumathy alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian regarding “Convergence of Tribal Welfare Schemes with State Initiatives” Brief details of major schemes/programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the country: (i) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA): The Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health, education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities benefiting more than 5 crore tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. The Abhiyan has total budgetary outlay of Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr and State share: ₹22,823 Cr). (ii) Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) on 15th November 2023, which is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. The mission with financial outlay of around Rs.24,000 Crore aims to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, electrification of un-electrified households and sustainable livelihood opportunities in time bound manner in 3 years. (iii) Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), which has been designed through the merger of two existing schemes for the promotion of tribal livelihood, i.e., “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP” and “Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce”. The scheme envisages fixation and declaration of Minimum Support Price for the selected MFP. Procurement and Marketing operation at pre-fixed MSP will be undertaken by the designated State Agencies in the event of the prevailing market price of the particular MFP item falling below the stipulated MSP. Simultaneously other medium and long-term issues like sustainable collection, value addition, infrastructure development, knowledge base expansion of MFP and market intelligence development will also be addressed. (iv) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was started in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own environment. Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). 288 EMRS schools were initially funded under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the new model.Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST students across the country. (v) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution: Under the Proviso to Article 275(1) of Constitution, Grants are released to States, having ST population for raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas and for the welfare of tribal people. This is a Special Area Programme and 100% grants are provided to States. Funds are released to the State Governments depending on the felt needs of ST population to bridge the gap in infrastructure activities in the fields of education, health, skill development, livelihood, drinking water, sanitation, etc. (vi) Grant-in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes: Under the scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, the Ministry funds projects in the fields of education and health, covering residential schools, non-residential schools, hostels, mobile dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, livelihood, etc. (vii) Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students: The scheme is applicable to students who are studying in Classes IX –X. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Scholarship of Rs.225/-per month for day scholars and Rs.525/-per month for hostellers is given for a period of 10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except North East and Hills States/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share. (viii) Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled Tribe students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary levels to enable them to complete their education. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Compulsory fees charged by educational institutions are reimbursed subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study is paid. The Scheme is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UT of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share. (ix) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students: It is a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs under which scholarships are given to the meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education in top 1000 ranked (as per latest QS world ranking) Institutes/Universities abroad. This scheme is started from year 1954-55. The Scheme is implemented through the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, Ministry of External Affairs. Twenty awards are given every year. ST students with annual family income not exceeding Rs.6.0 lakhs are eligible to apply for the Scholarship under the Scheme. (x) National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students:(a) National Scholarship– (Top class) Scheme [Graduate level]: The objective of the scheme is to encourage meritorious ST students for pursuing studies in prescribed courses in any of the 265 institutions of excellence across the country like IITs, AIIMS, IIMs, NIITs, etc. identified by the Ministry. Family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum. Scholarship amount includes tuition fees, living expenses and allowances for books and computer. (b) National Fellowship for ST students: 750 fellowships are provided to ST students each year for pursing higher studies in India for MPhil and PhD. Fellowship is granted as per UGC norms. (xi) Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): Ministry extends support to the State Governments through the Scheme to set up new TRIs where it didn’t exist and to strengthen functioning of existing TRIs to carry out its core responsibility towards Research & Documentations, Training and capacity building, promotion of rich tribal heritage etc. To preserve tribal art and culture, financial assistance is provided to TRI’s to carry out various activities to preserve and promote tribal culture and heritage across the country through research and documentation, maintenance and preservation of art & artefacts, setting up of tribal museum, exchange visits for the tribals to other parts of the State, organizing tribal festivals etc. Funding under this Scheme is 100% grant-in-aid by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the TRIs on need basis with the approval of Apex Committee.Annexure II Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6308 for 02.04.2026 by Dr. T Sumathy alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian regarding “Convergence of Tribal Welfare Schemes with State Initiatives” State-wise funds allocations made in the State of Tamil Nadu during recent financial years by the Ministry under these schemes/programmes is as follows: Details of Fund Released and Utilized to under the Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (₹ in crore) Sl. Name of the F.Y. 2021-22 F.Y. 2022-23 F.Y. 2023-24 F.Y. 2024-25 F.Y. 2025-26 No. State/UT Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund Released eleased zed eleased zed eleased zed eleased zed (UC Not due) 1 Tamil Nadu 5.47 5.47 4.04 4.04 3.62 3.62 0.60 0.60 8.13 Details of Fund Released and Utilized under the Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for S T students (₹ in Crore) Sl. Name of the F.Y. 2021-22 F.Y. 2022-23 F.Y. 2023-24 F.Y. 2024-25 F.Y. 2025-26 No. State/UT Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund R Utili Fund Released eleased zed eleased zed eleased zed eleased zed (UC Not due) 1 Tamil Nadu 48.49 48.4 28.54 28.5 20.00 20.0 25.00 25.0 26.33 9 4 0 0 YEAR WISE FUNDS RELEASED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF EMRS TILL 28.02.2026 Rs. In lakhs 2025-26 S.No Name of the State/UT 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 (Till 28.02.2026) 1 Tamil Nadu 1,098.78 1,099.80 1,738.95 2,797.39Details of funds released, year-wise and State-wise, for MPCs (in Rs. Cr) Funds released Funds released Funds released Bills closed on SNA State during 2023-24 during 2024-25 during 2025-26 SPARSH during 2025-26 TAMIL - 5.2 20.67 5.07 NADU Details of funds released, year-wise and State-wise, under Development of PVTGs (Rs. in lakh) S. No. Name of State 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* 1 Tamil Nadu 1967.81 907.70 0.00 2723.11 *ProvisionalState-wise fund released under SCA to TSS/PMAAGY during last 5 years (Rs. in lakh) S. No. States PMAAGY 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* Fund Release Fund Release Fund Release Fund Release 1 Tamil Nadu 285.32 285.62 855.805 461.37 *Provisional Status of Funds released under Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (Rs. In Lakh) Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* 2025-26* S. State No Total Total Total Total Bills closed on SNA s UC Re UC Re UC Re UC Re . Releas Releas Releas Releas SPARSH in 2025-2 ceived ceived ceived ceived e e e e 6 Tamil 855.80 1 285.32 251.95 285.62 211.39 854.27 461.37 0 662.44 Nadu 5 *ProvisionalDETAILS OF FUND RELEASED FUNDED DURING THE YEAR 2013-14 TO 2025-26 UNDER THE SCHEME OF GRANT IN AID TO VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR THE WELFARE OF SCHEDULED TRIBES' (Rs. in lakh) 2025-26 (as on State 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* 12.02.2026* TAMILNADU 250.31 377.29 189.10 321.25 Details of funds released under the Scheme of ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes’ during 2020-21 to 2024-25 (Rs. in lakh) State Fund Released Sl. No 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* 1 Tamil Nadu 0.00 135.09 0.00 25.00 300.00 *Provisional Funds released and Utilization reported during under Proviso to Article 275(1) of the Constitution is as under (Rs in lakh): (Rs. in lakh) S. No Stat 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25* . e Funds Utilization repFunds Utilization repFunds Utilization repFunds Utilization rep Relea orted by State Relea orted by State Relea orted by State Relea orted by State sed Government sed Government sed Government sed Government 1 Tam 650.4 2019. il Na 0.00 0.00 0.00 1146.26 0.00 481.64 9 665 du *ProvisionalDharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan Details of funds released during 2025-26 (Rs. in Cr) as on 21.01.2026 Sl. No State Released A B F 1 Tamil Nadu 2.31 Funds sanctioned for establishment of VDVKs Sl. Total Number of VDVKs State/UT Funds Sanctioned (In Lakhs) No. Sanctioned 1 Tamil Nadu 8 120.00 Funds sanctioned for establishment of PM-JANMAN VDVKs Funds Sl. VDVK State/UT Sanctioned No. Sanctioned (In Lakhs) 1 Tamil Nadu 37 120.15 *****