According to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, the Narendra Modi administration would present the Union Budget 2024 to the Parliament in the latter part of July. It is anticipated that the budget will include more than Rs 5 trillion worth of initiatives for the tribal population. Oram stated in an interview that 7.5% of the budget has been set aside for the tribal community overall, noting contributions from every ministry because all of them have a tribal welfare component.
The recently appointed federal minister declared, "We have a budget of more than Rs 5 trillion for the tribal community that can be spent on their welfare projects." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allotted Rs 1.3 trillion to the ministry of tribal affairs in the interim budget, which was unveiled on February 1. This is a significant increase of 70% over the financial year 2023–24.
Which tribal welfare programs are currently under progress?
Oram claims that the Center is attempting to establish 740 Eklavya Model schools. The program aims to improve the indigenous pupils' educational infrastructure. The tribal minister said, "We have funds of more than Rs 1.50 trillion available for the project."
According to statistics given by the Center in 2021, 367 of the 620 Eklavya Model schools that have been sanctioned and are operational are located throughout India. Oram also discussed the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) - Aajeevika program, which aims to raise tribal people's standard of living. "Under the scheme, we have offered MSPs on over 87 products," he said.
He said that 3,958 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are now operating as a result of the Center's efforts. Prime Minister Modi introduced the program in 2018, with the goal of using the tribal community's expertise of forests and forest-related goods to benefit them. He went on to highlight the National Education Society (NEST), an organization created to raise the standard of instruction for kids from indigenous communities.
What is the Indian tribal population?
As of the 2011 Census, around 8.9% of India's overall population consists of tribal people. When it comes to reaping the rewards of government programs, they continue to be among the most marginalized segments of society. According to a survey published in March by the World disparity Database, income disparity in India is higher now than it was during the interwar colonial era. As per a credible research, in 2022–2023 just the top 1% of earners received 22.6% of the country's revenue.
The Degree of Poverty in Indigenous Tribes
90% of the tribe's population, which is concentrated in 10 states in the Northeast, lives in rural regions, according to the 2018 report of the "Expert Committee on Tribal Health." Additionally, according to the research, two thirds of them (based on the 2011 Census) mostly rely on the agriculture industry for their living. According to the Center, the percentage of scheduled tribes (STs) living in rural regions below the poverty line decreased from 62.3% in 2004–05 to 45.3% in 2011–12. Comparably, the percentage of urban regions has decreased from 35.5% in 2004–05 to 24.1% in 2011–12.
