Scheduled Tribes in Kerala

Ministry of Tribal Affairs Scheduled Tribes in Kerala प्रव तथ: 30 JUL 2026 1:40PM by PIB Delhi Replying to a question in Lok Sabha today the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that as per Census 2011, the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of Kerala is 4,84,839, constituting 1.45 per cent of the total population of the State. The districts having the highest Scheduled Tribe population are Wayanad, Idukki, Palakkad, Kasaragod and Kannur.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, while the Ministry of Tribal Affairs monitors its implementation through Monthly Progress Reports received from them. As per MPR of MoTA, 2,923 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) titles and 110 Community Forest Rights (CFR) titles, aggregating 3033 forest rights titles, have been distributed under the Act.

The Government accords high priority to the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes, including those residing in Kerala. Issues relating to land rights, education, health, nutrition and livelihood are addressed through implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and various schemes of the Central and State Governments. Matters relating to land alienation are dealt with by the State Government under the applicable State laws, while health and nutrition interventions are implemented through convergence under various Central and State Government programmes.

The year wise details of funds released to the Government of Kerala under Tribal sub Plan and other

centrally sponsored schemes: (Rs. In Crores) Sl Scheme 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025- .No. 22 23 24 25 26 1 Tribal Sub Plan Scheme # 781.36 859.50 859.50 859.50 920.00 2 Support to Tribal Research - - - 3.00 1.04 Institutes (TRIs) 3 Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST 3.47 - 4.36 1.00 0.75 Students 4 Post-Matric Scholarship for ST 25.16 - 46.89 29.00 62.36 Students5 PM JANMAN * - - 2.29* - - 6 Grants under Article 275(1) of - 8.18 19.10 3.96 - the Constitution 7 PMAAGY - - 0.61 0.30 - *: The PM JANMAN scheme was launched on 15 November 2023.

#: State TSP The government continues to support the welfare and development of Scheduled tribes in Kerala

through various interventions: i. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan Hon'ble PM launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, provide social infrastructure like hostels, Anganwadi facilities and mobile medical units and set up Van Dhan Vikas Kendras to provide 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 a total budgetary outlay of Rs.79,156 Cr (Central share: ₹56,333 Cr and State share: ₹22,823 Cr) ii. Pre-Matric Scholarships to ST students: The scheme is applicable to students who are studying in Classes IX –X. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Scholarship of Rs.225/-per month for day scholars and Rs.525/-per month for hostellers is given for a period of 10 months in a year. Scholarship is disbursed through the State Government/UT Administration. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except North East and Hills States/UT like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10.For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.

iii. Post Matric Scholarship to ST students: The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled Tribe students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary levels to enable them to complete their education. Parental income from all sources should not be more than Rs.2.50 lakhs per annum. Compulsory fees charged by educational institutions are reimbursed subject to the limit fixed by the concerned State Fee fixation committee and scholarship amount of Rs.230 to Rs.1200 per month, depending upon the course of study is paid. The Scheme is implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Funding ratio is 75:25 between Centre and States for all States except NE and Hilly States/UT of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir where it is 90:10. For UTs without legislature sharing pattern is 100% Central share.

iv. National Scholarship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students (earlier known as Top Class Scholarship Scheme): Under this Scheme, Scholarship is provided for pursuing Graduate/Post Graduate courses in the selected top-class Government and Non-Government Institutes in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc. All the ST students, with annual parental income is not exceeding Rs.6.0 lakhs and studying in the 265 notified institutes by the Ministry, are eligible to receive scholarship. This scheme is started from year 2007-08 (b) National Fellowship Scheme for

Higher Education of ST Students: It is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by Ministryof Tribal Affairs to grant scholarship to meritorious ST students for pursuing Ph.D in India after completion of Master degree. This scheme is started from year 2005-06. The total number of fresh fellowships for Ph.D every year will be 750. ST students with a minimum of 55% marks in Master Degree up to the age of 36 years are eligible to apply for fellowship under the Scheme. The value of fellowship is at par with UGC rates.

v. National Overseas Scholarship for ST students: It is a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs under which scholarships are given to the meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education in top 1000 ranked (as per latest QS world ranking) Institutes/Universities abroad. This scheme is started from year 1954-55. The Scheme is implemented through the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad, Ministry of External Affairs.

Twenty awards are given every year. ST students with annual family income not exceeding Rs.6.0 lakhs are eligible to apply for the Scholarship under the Scheme. vi. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): Government launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) for socio- economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 states and one UT. The mission aims to provide basic facilities 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 planned to be met through 11 interventions including Hostels and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) implemented by 9-line Ministries. PM JANMAN has total budgetary outlay of Rs.24,104 Cr (Central share: ₹15336 Cr and State share: ₹8768 Cr).

vii. Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution: 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.

viii. Grant-in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes:

Under the scheme of Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, the Ministry funds projects in the fields of education and health, covering residential schools, non-residential schools, hostels, mobile dispensaries, ten or more bedded hospitals, livelihood, etc.

ix. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): The Scheme provides quality residential education to Scheduled Tribe students in remote and tribal areas with the objective of enabling them to access quality education comparable to the best institutions in the country.

The schools provide modern educational infrastructure along with facilities for holistic development of tribal students. x. Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): The Mission promotes sustainable livelihoods of Scheduled Tribes through value addition, entrepreneurship development, marketing support and strengthening of tribal producer organisations, with emphasis on value chains based on Minor Forest Produce and other tribal products.

xi. Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE): The Scheme supports Tribal Research Institutes for research, documentation, capacity building, preservation and promotion of tribal culture, awareness generation, information dissemination and evidence-based policy support.

xii. National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC): under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is an apex organisation set up exclusively for economicdevelopment of Scheduled Tribes implements various schemes for livelihood generation.

NSTFDC extends concessional loans to the eligible Scheduled Tribe communities. xiii. Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF-ST): The Scheme is implemented through the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) to provide concessional venture capital assistance to Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs for establishment and expansion of income-generating enterprises.

xiv. Strengthening of health, education, drinking water, connectivity and other infrastructure through convergence with Ministries/Departments and the Government of Kerala.

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