Parliament Question: Welfare Schemes for Tribal Youth in Hingoli

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 6431 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/04/2026 WELFARE SCHEMES FOR TRIBAL YOUTH IN HINGOLI 6431. SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether a large number of tribal students and youth in the Hingoli Lok Sabha Constituency of Maharashtra are dropping out of schools and colleges due to poverty, lack of hostels, poor transport facilities, digital divide and inadequate scholarship support, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the access to quality skill development programmes, vocational training centres and employment-oriented courses remains extremely limited in tribal-dominated blocks of Hingoli, if so the reasons therefor; (c) whether any special residential schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools or skill hubs have been sanctioned or proposed for the said constituency; and (d) the time-bound steps being taken to strengthen educational infrastructure, expand scholarships and hostels, promote digital inclusion, establish skill development centres and ensure sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities for tribal youth in Hingoli Lok Sabha Constituency? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a) to (d): The operational jurisdiction of this Project Office covers two districts, namely Hingoli and Parbhani in Maharashtra. The entire operational area falls under the Outside Tribal Sub-Plan (OTSP), due to which the Project Office receives a relatively limited budget allocation. Despite this constraint, the Government of Maharashtra is implementing both individual and community- based schemes for the welfare and socio-economic upliftment of tribal populations. In the Hingoli Lok Sabha Constituency, the dropout rate among tribal students and youth at both school and college levels is negligible. To sustain and further reduce dropout rates, several measures have been undertaken. These include the Suvarna Mahotsavi Scholarship Scheme for students from Class I to X and the Government of India Scholarship Scheme for higher education. In addition, free admission is provided in schools. Under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Scheme, students who are unable to secure hostel accommodation are provided financial assistance for lodging, food, and educational materials, amounting to ₹2,43,000 per student for non- professional courses and ₹2,48,000 per student for professional courses. To support educational access, the Project Office oversees a network of institutions, including 5 Government residential Ashramshalas, 7 aided Ashramshalas, 2 recognized residential schools, 6 Government tribal hostels, and 1 Sainik School. Government Ashramshalas are equipped with digital learning facilities such as tablet labs and Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs), promoting digital inclusion among tribal students.For skill development, initiatives such as the Pardhi Package and the N.B. Scheme have been implemented, under which 30 and 120 laptops respectively have been distributed to tribal beneficiaries in Hingoli district. A Government Tribal Industrial Training Institute (ITI) has been established at Jamgavhan (Taluka Kalamnuri) to provide vocational training. Additionally, five other Government ITIs and one Government Polytechnic College are operational in the district, offering further opportunities for technical and skill-based education. Further, the establishment of an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is under process. As per Government Resolution dated 09.10.2020, a total of 15 acres of land is required. Out of this, 7.5 acres have already been acquired at Shivani (Taluka Kalamnuri). The acquisition of the remaining land is in progress, and upon completion, the proposal will be submitted to the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) for approval. *****