The Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India number about 67.76 million. They constitute 8.08 per cent of the country’s population, living mainly in forest and hilly regions. The essential characteristics of these communities are primitive traits, geographical isolation, distinctive culture and shyness of contact with outsiders. Educational and economic backwardness is also their common feature. As a result, the ST population suffers from illiteracy, poverty and ill health by and large. To ameliorate their condition, the Constitution of India has several special provisions for promoting educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Tribes and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
The Tribal Sub-Plan strategy, adopted at the beginning of the Fifth Five Year Plan, seeks to ensure adequate flow of funds for tribal development from the State Plan allocations, schemes and programmes of Central Ministries and Departments besides financial and developmental institutions, in proportion to their population. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing several schemes and programmes for the benefits of the STs.
Special Assistance
Special Central assistance is given to the States and Union Territories (UTs) to supplement their efforts in tribal development through the Tribal Sub-Plan, basically meant for family-oriented income-generating schemes in various sectors. Grants are also given to States/UTs under the first proviso to article 275(1) of the Constitution to meet the costs of projects for tribal development and for raising the level of administration of Scheduled Area therein at par with the rest of the State/UT. A part of the funds is utilised for setting up of residential schools to provide quality education to the tribal students.
Primitive Groups
Based on the pre-agricultural level of technology, low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, 75 tribal communities in 17 States/UTs have been identified and categorised as Primitive Tribal Groups. A new Central sector scheme has been introduced for an all-round development of these groups from 1998-99 under which financial assistance is made available to the Integrated Tribal Development Projects, Tribal Research Institutes and Non-Governmental Organisations for undertaking projects and activities not covered by any of the existing schemes.
Fourteen Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) have been set up in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. They are engaged in providing planning inputs to the State governments, conducting research and evaluation studies, collection of data, codification of customary laws and the conduct of training, seminars and workshops. Some of these Institutes are also having museums exhibiting tribal artifacts.
A scheme for tribal girls’ hostel was started in the Third Five Year Plan with the aim of providing residential facilities to them while pursuing education. The Centre provides assistance to the tune of 50 per cent cost of construction to the States, and cent per cent to the Union Territories under the scheme. The boys’ hostel scheme was started in 1989-90 under the same pattern as the girls hostels.
The Central sector vocational training scheme for tribal areas introduced in 1992-93 aims at developing the skills of the tribal youth for providing them employment or self-employment opportunities by setting up of Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).
Cooperatives
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was set up by the Centre in 1987 with the prime objective of providing marketing assistance and remunerative prices to the STs for their minor forest and surplus agricultural produce and to wean them away from exploitative private traders and middlemen.
A Central sector scheme of grain banks in tribal villages was launched in 1996-97. The scheme provides for food security to prevent starvation in remote and backward tribal areas. Funds are channelised through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). So far, 534 Grain Banks have been set up in the country till 2001.
The Ministry gives grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations working for the welfare of the scheduled tribes for projects like residential schools, hostels, medical units, computer training units, shorthand and typing training units, balwadis/ creches, libraries and audio-visual units.
Scholarships
Students of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get financial assistance for pursuing recognised post–matriculation courses including professional, technical as well as non-professional and non-technical courses at various levels, correspondence courses and distance education. The scheme is implemented by the State governments and UT administrations which receive 100 per cent financial assistance over and above the committed liability.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides National Overseas Scholarship for higher studies abroad, book banks, coaching and upgradation of merit for the benefit of ST students.
Since the formation of the Ministry, efforts have been directed to improve social and developmental indices of the Scheduled Tribes to achieve better evaluation of the existing situation, bring about focused attention on the felt needs of the Scheduled Tribes and monitor the flow of funds to the Tribal Sub-Plan from State government/UTs, Central Ministries and Departments. Close monitoring of the implementation of the schemes and programmes for the welfare and the development of STs has helped improve their lot.
The Tribal Sub-Plan strategy, adopted at the beginning of the Fifth Five Year Plan, seeks to ensure adequate flow of funds for tribal development from the State Plan allocations, schemes and programmes of Central Ministries and Departments besides financial and developmental institutions, in proportion to their population. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing several schemes and programmes for the benefits of the STs.
Special Assistance
Special Central assistance is given to the States and Union Territories (UTs) to supplement their efforts in tribal development through the Tribal Sub-Plan, basically meant for family-oriented income-generating schemes in various sectors. Grants are also given to States/UTs under the first proviso to article 275(1) of the Constitution to meet the costs of projects for tribal development and for raising the level of administration of Scheduled Area therein at par with the rest of the State/UT. A part of the funds is utilised for setting up of residential schools to provide quality education to the tribal students.
Primitive Groups
Based on the pre-agricultural level of technology, low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, 75 tribal communities in 17 States/UTs have been identified and categorised as Primitive Tribal Groups. A new Central sector scheme has been introduced for an all-round development of these groups from 1998-99 under which financial assistance is made available to the Integrated Tribal Development Projects, Tribal Research Institutes and Non-Governmental Organisations for undertaking projects and activities not covered by any of the existing schemes.
Fourteen Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) have been set up in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura. They are engaged in providing planning inputs to the State governments, conducting research and evaluation studies, collection of data, codification of customary laws and the conduct of training, seminars and workshops. Some of these Institutes are also having museums exhibiting tribal artifacts.
A scheme for tribal girls’ hostel was started in the Third Five Year Plan with the aim of providing residential facilities to them while pursuing education. The Centre provides assistance to the tune of 50 per cent cost of construction to the States, and cent per cent to the Union Territories under the scheme. The boys’ hostel scheme was started in 1989-90 under the same pattern as the girls hostels.
The Central sector vocational training scheme for tribal areas introduced in 1992-93 aims at developing the skills of the tribal youth for providing them employment or self-employment opportunities by setting up of Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).
Cooperatives
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was set up by the Centre in 1987 with the prime objective of providing marketing assistance and remunerative prices to the STs for their minor forest and surplus agricultural produce and to wean them away from exploitative private traders and middlemen.
A Central sector scheme of grain banks in tribal villages was launched in 1996-97. The scheme provides for food security to prevent starvation in remote and backward tribal areas. Funds are channelised through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). So far, 534 Grain Banks have been set up in the country till 2001.
The Ministry gives grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations working for the welfare of the scheduled tribes for projects like residential schools, hostels, medical units, computer training units, shorthand and typing training units, balwadis/ creches, libraries and audio-visual units.
Scholarships
Students of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get financial assistance for pursuing recognised post–matriculation courses including professional, technical as well as non-professional and non-technical courses at various levels, correspondence courses and distance education. The scheme is implemented by the State governments and UT administrations which receive 100 per cent financial assistance over and above the committed liability.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides National Overseas Scholarship for higher studies abroad, book banks, coaching and upgradation of merit for the benefit of ST students.
Since the formation of the Ministry, efforts have been directed to improve social and developmental indices of the Scheduled Tribes to achieve better evaluation of the existing situation, bring about focused attention on the felt needs of the Scheduled Tribes and monitor the flow of funds to the Tribal Sub-Plan from State government/UTs, Central Ministries and Departments. Close monitoring of the implementation of the schemes and programmes for the welfare and the development of STs has helped improve their lot.
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