The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has proposed setting up of a national-level Tribal Research Institute (TRI) along with a National Tribal Museum in the national capital, Union Minister Jual Oram said here today.
The national-level TRI will be responsible for coordinating the activities of state TRIs along with taking up national-level studies.
The National Tribal Museum, which will be a part of the set up, will showcase the rich tribal culture and heritage using state-of-the-art technologies.
The proposal to setup the museum and the TRI has already been sent to the Niti Aayog, Oram said.
He said as per the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2016, the Tribal Affairs Ministry is in the process of setting up memorials of six tribal freedom fighters, including two of national importance -- one at Narmada (Gujarat) and the other at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.
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Listing out the achievements of his ministry in the last four years, Oram said allocations under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) has seen an increase of 94 per cent in the last four years, from Rs 19, 437 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 37,803 crore in 2018-19.
The increase is due to allocations under STC to eight more ministries and departments, Oram said.
He also talked about the amendments in the Allocation of Business Rules in 2017, whereby, the ministry was given the mandate for monitoring STC funds of central ministries.
An online monitoring system (www.stcmis.gov.in) has been put in place for monitoring of expenditure vis--vis allocations, physical performance and outcome monitoring.
Oram said his ministry has spent Rs 18415.18 crore for development of tribals in the last four years, from 2014-15 to 2017-18.
A total of 18,40,370 titles have been distributed under Forest Rights Act, 2006, covering an area of 143 lakh acres across the country, Oram said.
The ministry has developed a forest rights portal --http://forestrights.nic.in -- which gives complete information about the Forest Right Act (FRA) and rules, and facilitates the filing of claims under the Act.
The ministry regularly monitors the implementation of FRA in close coordination with the states, Oram said.
The minister said the states have been asked to enumerate the number of gram sabhas in tribal areas and to find out if rights under FRA have been given.
"Due process is being followed to ensure this," he said.
He further said the ministry has been encouraging promotion of sports by supporting creation of infrastructure (mini-stadium, well-equipped playground, astro-turf grounds etc)
"This year the ministry is also planning to organise a National Level EMRS (Ekalavya Model Residential School) Sports Meet in December, he said.
Out of the 115 "aspirational" districts identified by the Niti Aayog, there are 27 districts which have 50 per cent or more ST population and another 13 districts that have two or more blocks having 50 per cent or more ST population.
"We are currently focussing on these 40 tribal dominated aspirational districts. Focus areas have been identified and regular communication between the district collectors and 'prabhari' officers is being ensured.
"During the recently concluded project appraisal committee meetings, projects of about Rs 600 crore have been sanctioned for implementation in the aspirational districts," Oram said.
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