Parliament Question: Status of Welfare Schemes for STs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1999 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025 STATUS OF WELFARE SCHEMES FOR STS 1999. SHRI. K. RADHAKRISHNAN: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the current status of implementation of welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised under major schemes such as the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP) and Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana during the last three years; (c) whether the Government is aware of continuing issues of malnutrition, land alienation and inadequate access to healthcare and education among Scheduled Tribes and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government is aware of the reasons for delays in addressing these issues despite repeated requests from State Governments, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps the Government proposes to take to ensure timely intervention and targeted support for tribal welfare? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a): NITI Aayog (DMEO) has conducted an Evaluation Study of Centrally Sponsored Schemes under Package 9, analysing their performance during the period FY 2020–21 to FY 2024–25 which covered the following Centrally Sponsored schemes under Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana: 1. Pre-Matric Scholarship 2. Post Matric Scholarship for STs 3. Support to Tribal Research Institutes 4. Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) 5. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) 6. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adrash Gram Yojna – PMAAGY (previously known as Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme - SCA to TSS). PMAAGY is now revamped and is subsumed under DAJGUA 7. Administrative Cost to States / UTs The Ministry is also undertaking evaluation of the following Central Sector schemes: 1. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)2. National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 3. Scholarship to the ST Students for studies abroad 4. Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes 5. Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) 6. Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE) 7. Monitoring, Evaluation, Survey and Social Audit (MESSA) 8. Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (b): The details of funds allocated, released and utilised under major schemes such as the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan (SCA to TSP) and Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana during the last three years is given at Annexure I. (c) to (e): Through various surveys, developmental gaps have been identified between Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the general population. As per NFHS 5 (2019-21), Infant mortality rate are higher among STs (41.6) than in the general population (35.2). As per NFHS 5 (2019-21), prevalence of stunting, wasting and being underweight is 40.9%, 23.2% and 39.5% for ST children in comparison to 35.5%, 19.3% and 32.1% in general population respectively. As per Annual Report of PLFS 2023-24 , the overall literacy rate of STs is 73.4% compared to 80.9% in the general population. 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. Besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 41 Ministries/Departments are mandated to allocate certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development under DAPST to bridge the developmental gaps 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 of Scheduled 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. 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. 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 these schemes are given at Annexure II.Annexure I Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1999 for 11.12.2025 by Shri. K. Radhakrishnan regarding “Status of welfare schemes for STs” Scheme-wise Budget Expenditure and Revised allocation of major schemes of Ministry of Tribal Affairs during last three years. (Rs. in Crore) 2022- 2023- 2024-25 S.No. Name of Scheme 23 24 Exp. Exp. RE 1 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) 1999.32 2447.06 4748.92 2 Grant under proviso to Article 275(1) of the Constitution 976.5 1172.1 1170.57 PM Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna 3 Pre-Matric Scholarship for STs 357.3 308.6 200 4 Post Matric Scholarship for STs 1965 2668.83 2462.68 5 Support to Tribal Research Institutes 12.4 43.53 90 6 Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) 137.18 -- 74.55 Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme - SCA to 7 1354.37 149.93 127.51 TSS/ Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna (PMAAGY) 8 Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) -- 100 150 9 Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utakarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) -- -- 500 National Tribal Welfare Programme 10 Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of STs 109.25 149.95 160 11 Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) 117.12 137.1 152.32 Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events 12 15.01 32.04 32 (TRI-ECE) 13 National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 145 230 240 14 National Overseas Scholarship Scheme 4 7 6 15 Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) -- 9.97 10 GRAND TOTAL 7192.45 7456.11 10124.55 Source: Union BudgetAnnexure II Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1999 for 11.12.2025 by Shri. K. Radhakrishnan regarding “Status of welfare schemes for STs” Brief details of major schemes/programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the country: (i) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: 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. The Ministry is implementing the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)’ through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) which envisions to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, agri / minor Forest Produce (MFPs) / non-farm produce. Under the scheme, financial support is provided to the State Governments for setting up of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centres of value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. (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 Scholarships for ST Candidates: The Scheme provides for financial assistance to selected students to pursue Post Graduation, PhD & Post-Doctoral study abroad. A total of 20 awards are given every year. Of these, 17 awards are for STs and 3 awards for students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Parental/family income from all sources should not exceed Rs.6.00 lakhs per annum. (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. *****