**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the implementation of welfare schemes in Kasaragod, Kerala, focusing on addressing infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood gaps in tribal hamlets. It details funds received and utilized under tribal welfare schemes in the last five years, including district-specific interventions. The answer was to be provided on January 29, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Kasaragod District Gaps:** The Government acknowledges persistent gaps in basic amenities, healthcare, education, and livelihood among Scheduled Tribe hamlets in Kasaragod district.
* **TDO Kasaragod Expenditure:**
* Detailed funds received and expenditure from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* Funds received and expenditure were identical each year for the years stated:
* 2020-21: ₹18,528,745
* 2021-22: ₹20,006,021
* 2022-23: ₹13,778,199
* 2023-24: ₹14,528,947
* 2024-25: ₹18,914,403
* **TDO Parappa Expenditure:**
* Lists allotment and expenditure from the financial years 2021-22 to 2024-25.
* The amounts for Allotment and Expenditure were identical for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23:
* 2021-22: ₹7,60,49,006
* 2022-23: ₹13,64,20,288
* ₹8,34,92,132 was allotted and ₹8,34,91,581 was spent in 2023-24
* ₹1,094 was spent in 2024-25.
* Total Expenditure across the years was ₹12,02,96,823.
* **Addressing Land Ownership:** "Operation Smile" was initiated by the District Collector to resolve the lack of land ownership documents for tribal communities.
* 539 families of the Koraga community have had land surveys completed.
* Procedures to conduct land surveys for other communities like the Malavettuva have also begun.
* **Funds Released for Kerala:** Details of funds released for Kerala under major schemes for Tribal Welfare by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
* Includes data on EMRS, Tribal Sub-Plan, Grants under Article 275(i), Pre-matric Funds, Post-matric Funds, NSFTDC loans, and NGO funding.
* **Implementation and Monitoring:** Welfare schemes are implemented through ST Promoters and Tribal Extension Officers, with local self-government institutions also involved. Periodic evaluations are undertaken, and schemes are redesigned as needed.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities in Kasaragod, Kerala**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of improved infrastructure, healthcare, education, livelihood programs, and land ownership initiatives ("Operation Smile").
* **Action Required:** Engage with ST Promoters and Tribal Extension Officers to access available welfare schemes.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of welfare schemes.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the continued delivery of funds and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.
**Revenue Department, Survey Department, and Scheduled Tribe Development Department**
* **Impact:** Responsible for land surveys and issuance of land possession certificates as part of "Operation Smile".
* **Action Required:** Continue conducting surveys and issuing certificates.
**ST Promoters and Tribal Extension Officers**
* **Impact:** Play a crucial role in the effective implementation of welfare schemes at the grassroots level.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the proper delivery of services and report on the progress of the initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary government body responsible for tribal welfare, as indicated by the question to the Minister of Tribal Affairs and details of funds released for tribal welfare by the ministry.
Kasaragod, Kerala: The specific location where the implementation of welfare schemes and related issues are being addressed.
Operation Smile: A project formulated to address the issue of lack of land ownership documents faced by tribal communities in Kerala.
Tribal Sub-Plan: A government plan with allocated expenditure towards tribal development.
Scheduled Tribe hamlets: The direct beneficiaries of the welfare schemes and interventions discussed in the document.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 203
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 29/01/2026
IMPLEMENTATION OF WELFARE SCHEMES IN KASARAGOD, KERALA
203. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of persistent infrastructure, health, education and livelihood gaps in tribal
hamlets of Kasaragod district, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of funds released and utilised under tribal welfare schemes in Kerala during the last five years;
(c) whether any district-specific intervention has been designed for tribal communities in Kasaragod, if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) whether steps have been taken to ensure the effective delivery of welfare schemes at the grassroots level, if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SH. DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a & c): The Government is aware that critical gaps persist in basic amenities, healthcare, education, and
livelihood among the Scheduled Tribe hamlets in Kasaragod district. To address these gaps funds for
programmes/tribal schemes the following expenditure has been incurred in the last five years in Kasaragod
District.
TDO Kasaragod
Year Funds Received (₹) Expenditure (₹)
2020–21 18,528,745 18,528,745
2021–22 20,006,021 20,006,021
2022–23 13,778,199 13,778,199
2023–24 14,528,947 14,528,947
2024–25 18,914,403 18,914,403
TDO Parappa
Statement of Plan, Allotment and Expenditure
Financial Year Allotment (₹) Expenditure (₹)
2021–22 7,60,49,006 7,60,49,006
2022–23 13,64,20,288 13,64,20,288
2023–24 8,34,92,132 8,34,91,581
2024–25 — 1,094
Total — 12,02,96,823One of the long-standing major issues faced by the tribal communities in Kerala is the lack of land ownership
documents for the places where they have been residing for decades. Due to this reason, various departments are
often unable to consider them for several welfare benefits.To address this fundamental issue, the District Collector
took the initiative to formulate a project titled “Operation Smile.” This project is being implemented through
the Revenue Department, Survey Department, and the Scheduled Tribe Development Department. In the first
phase, the project focused on the PVTG community, the Koragas. As a result of the implementation of this
project, land survey has been completed for 539 families, and steps have been initiated to issue land possession
certificates to them. Simultaneously, procedures have also begun to conduct land surveys for other backward
communities among the Scheduled Tribes, such as the Malavettuva community.
(b & d):The details of funds released for Kerala under major schemes for Tribal Welfare by Ministry of Tribal
Affairs is given below. As Kasaragod is one of the District of Kerala with tribal population, they will also be
benefited.
(in lakhs)
S .N Name of the Scheme
2 020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 EMRS (funds released for construction and 229.56 1515.66 249 1252
operation of EMRS)
2 Expenditure under Tribal Sub-Plan 56765 72090 76832 53054 21197
3 Funds released under Grants under Article 817.67 1910.44
275(i)
4 Pre-matric funds released 116.56 347.07 0 436.46 100
5 Post-matric funds released 3285.25 2516.49 0 4689.34 2900
6 NSFTDC (loans given) amount in lakh 298.76 637.30 720.73 446.74 684.80
7 NGO 120.82 142.81 129.47 7.52 186.75
The effective implementation of welfare schemes of State Government including Operation Smile at the
grassroots level is being ensured through ST Promoters and Tribal Extension Officers. Development and welfare
activities are also being carried out through local self-government institutions, particularly the Grama Panchayats.
To see that government intervention are functioning effectively as per objectives, periodic evaluation is
undertaken and schemes are re-design accordingly.
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