In Rajya Sabha , the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey replying to an un-starred question of Shri Imran Pratapgarhi today said that Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (here in after FRA) was enacted to recognize and vest the forest rights to forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, who have been residing in such forests for generations, but whose rights could not be recorded. The Act came into effect from 31.12.2007. As per FRA and rules made thereunder, respective State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for implementation of various provisions of the FR Act. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), being the Nodal Ministry for administering the legislative matters of FRA, by exercising power under Section 12 of the Act, has been issuing directions and guidelines from time to time on various aspects to ensure proper implementation of the Act. MoTA monitors the Monthly Progress Reports submitted by the States/UTs. As reported by States/UTs, cumulatively till 31st May 2025, a total of 25,11,375 titles have been distributed, comprising 23,89,670 individual and 1,21,705 community titles. Further, the Ministry has been exhorting all State Governments to abide by the provisions contained in FRA and ensure that all eligible claimants are provided the rights which are due to them.

Government is implementing Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) as a strategy for the development of Scheduled Tribes and areas having tribal concentration. 41 Ministries/Departments are allocating a 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. 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 funds allocated and expended by the Central Ministries / Departments having DAPST component on their schemes which inter-alia focuses on combating malnutrition and enhancing educational outcomes among tribal children during last three years is tabulated below:

(Rs. in Crore)

Name of Central Ministry / Department	2022-23			2023-24			2024-25
	BE	RE	Exp	BE	RE	Exp	BE	RE
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare	5400.57	4924.44	4741.23	4830.41	4126.33	4134.09	4744.53	4624.93
Ministry of Women & Child Development	2145.00	2111.80	2111.40	2166.00	2370.00	2571.91	2380.00	1973.10
Department of School Education	6093.66	5556.78	5288.89	6824.04	6004.01	5642.10	7589.14	7331.44
Department of Higher Education	1986.00	1986.00	1841.56	2061.00	2116.86	1983.06	2122.30	2103.36
Ministry of Tribal Affairs	8406.92	7246.30	7225.29	12386.00	7529.77	7473.32	12938.32	10171.55

 

Hon'ble Prime Minister on 15th November 2023, launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya MahaAbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) for socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 states and one UT. The mission aims to provide basic facilities to improve their socio-economic conditions such as safe housing, clean drinking water and improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, electrification of unelectrified households and sustainable livelihood opportunities in 3 years. These objectives are being met through 11 interventions implemented by 9-line Ministries. PM JANMAN has total budgetary outlay of ₹24,104 Cr (Central share: ₹15336 Cr and State share: ₹8768 Cr). Each Ministry under abhiyan is responsible for implementing the intervention assigned to it.

Similarly, Hon'ble PM launched DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises 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).

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.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) to provide quality education to the tribal children (from class VI to XII) in their own environment from the year 2018-19. Earlier EMRS was a component under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. Under the new scheme, the Government decided to establish one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up 728 EMRSs across the country by the year 2026. As on date, a total number of 722 EMRSs have been sanctioned across the country, out of which 479 schools are reported to be functional benefiting 1.38 lakhs tribal students.

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(Release ID: 2153037)