Parliament Question: Utilisation of Funds for the Empowerment of STs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4762 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 21/08/2025 UTILISATION OF FUNDS FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF STS 4762. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the total funds allocated and utilised for the empowerment/development of STs, particularly in proportion to their population along with the physical targets planned and achieved under various schemes since 2014, year-wise; (b) whether the allocated funds have been fully utilised by the Union and State Governments, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether it is a fact that funds allocated for the welfare of STs have been diverted for other purposes and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government proposes to create a non-divertible and non-lapsable pool of resources exclusively for ST development; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a) and (b): 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 allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development under DAPST 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. An online monitoring system has been put in place by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs with web address: https://stcmis.gov.in for monitoring of DAPST funds. The framework captures data directly from Public Finance Management System (PFMS) and enables MoTA to see theexpenditure vis-a-vis allocations of different Ministries/Departments under DAPST. State wise releases made by the obligated Ministries/Depts is also available on the STCMIS portal. 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 and the funds released by the Ministry is given at Annexure I. (c) to (e): For proper accounting and monitoring and to ensure their non-divertibility to any other scheme, funds allocated under DAPST are shown by all the obligated Ministries/Depts under the minor head ‘796’ below the functional major Head/Sub-Major Heads in their ‘Detailed Demands for Grants’. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) convenes meetings with obligated Ministries/Departments from time to time to review the implementation of guidelines, allocation and expenditure of DAPST funds. The concerned officers of all major schemes of the obligated Ministries/Departments are requested to attend these meetings for proper and meaningful discussions. Allocation, expenditure, and implementation of individual schemes with DAPST allocation are discussed in the review meetings. The obligated Ministries/Departments are urged to adhere to the norms prescribed by NITI Aayog for allocation of DAPST funds under the schemes which provide specific benefits to the STs and the obligated Ministries/Departments are urged to ensure full and effective utilization of the allocated funds through regular correspondence. An online monitoring system has been put in place by the Ministry with web address: https://stcmis.gov.in for monitoring of DAPST funds.Annexure I Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) and part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4762 for 21.08.2025 by Shri Vijay Kumar Hansdak and Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan regarding “Utilisation of Funds for the Empowerment of 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 (DAJGUA): 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 265institutions 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. Year-wise funds allocations by the Ministry under these schemes/programmes is as follows: (₹ in crores) SN Schemes 2014- 2015- 2016- 2017- 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024-25 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (P) 1 Grants under proviso to 1126.13 1392.27 1265.81 1509.4 1814.99 2661.41 799.7 923.25 976.49 1172.1 1170.57 Article 275(1) of the Constitution 2 Special Central Assistance 1039.99 1132.17 1195.02 1348 1345 1345.62 816.49 781.52 1351.86 149.93 126.19 to Tribal Sub- Scheme/Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana# 3 Administrative Costs To -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 4 8.41 16.09 States/UTs 4 PM JANMAN 100.00 99.68 5 Development of PVTGs 180.00 213.54 339.06 239.49 250.00 249.99 140.00 160.00 137.18 0.00 73.09 6 NSTFDC 154.97 176.60 230.63 270.72 293.32 285.37 367.90 272.92 299.29 351.65 373.28 7 GRANT IN AID TO 82.2 75.05 120 119.94 114 94.85 59.5 89.25 109.25 120.84 175 VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR THE WELFARE OF SCHEDULED TRIBES' 8 Eklavya Model Residential 922.39 1297.54 1970.56 2304.95 4053.87 Schools (EMRS) 9 Post Matric Scholarship for 857.15 1555.67 1463.87 1647.53 1862.65 1830.14 2257.72 1965 2668.83 2598.34 STs 10 Pre-Matric Scholarship 228.69 84.17 294.08 311.5 439.99 248.9 394.14 357.3 308.6 163.69 (classes IX & X)11 National Fellowship and 46.91 80 99.72 99.98 100 120 120 145 230 240 Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 12 N Sca hti oo ln aa rsl h O ipv e fors re Sas T students 0.39 0.39 1 2 2 4.76 4.95 4 7 6 Note: - #The Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) was implemented till 2020–21, and thereafter, from 2021–22 to 2024–25, it has been implemented as the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) (P): Provisional Fund released under scholarship schemes in 2014-15 (₹ in crores) 2014-15 Sl. No. Name of the Scheme Actual Expenditure 1 Post Matric Scholarship for STs 721.01 2 Upgradation of Merit 0 3 Pre- Matric Scholarship (Classes IX & X) 200.7 4 Top Class Education for STs 18.49 5 Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship 0 6 National Overseas Scholarship for ST students 0.99 Year-wise No of beneficiaries under schemes/programmes is as follows: SN Schemes 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 (P) 1 EMRSs (No of Students 92075 105463 113275 123841 138336 Enrolled) 2 Voluntary Organizations 885546 634119 944281 866972 906719 1174913 975493 1012723 1181656 1510564 730500 Working for the Welfare of (P) Scheduled Tribes (No of beneficiaries) 3 NSTFDC (No of 29655 92824 107026 42369 70764 120831 169539 165101 72992 95142 88758 beneficiaries) 4 Pre-Matric Scholarship for 1213318 1262068 1129426 1430568 1449239 1455356 1439930 1377713 1003157 929767 910043 ST students (Class IX and X) (No of beneficiaries) 5 Post Matric Scholarship for 2037596 2056397 1870731 1932627 1967029 2060538 2005696 2344407 2269112 2064437 1816293 ST students (Class XI and above) (No of beneficiaries)6 National Scholarship 688 1013 510 1958 1983 1914 2449 2751 2828 5429 7013 Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students (Top Class) (No of beneficiaries) 7 National Fellowship Scheme 1158 1405 2193 2226 2518 2552 2625 2693 2938 2975 2698 for Higher Education of ST Students (No of beneficiaries) 8 National Overseas 7 5 9 14 21 29 30 46 44 65 58 Scholarship for ST students (No of beneficiaries) (P): Provisional *****