- Focus on Increasing Literacy and Skills in Tribal Areas
Bhopal, The Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which is on a study visit to Madhya Pradesh, reviewed the welfare schemes and the current socio-economic status of these communities at a meeting held in Bhopal on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Member of Parliament Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste. The committee emphasized the need to increase literacy rates in tribal areas, equip students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with skills, and ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes at the grassroots level.
On behalf of the state government, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Ashok Barnwal and Director General of Police Shri Kailash Makwana apprised the committee members of various government decisions and action plans.
The committee discussed the development schemes for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the implementation of the Jal Jivan Mission, the status of central budget expenditure, representation in various departments and posts, employment, health and education-related issues, utilization of funds under Article 275 of the Constitution, Forest Rights, implementation of the PESA Act, and laws related to the prevention of crimes against Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The committee was also informed about the progress and implementation of these schemes in Madhya Pradesh.
Additional Chief Secretary Shri Ashok Barnwal informed the committee that the administration is formulating policies and schemes in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. The monitoring mechanism to prevent possible crimes against Scheduled Castes and Tribes has been strengthened, and due attention is being paid to their representation in government jobs and promotions.
Principal Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Shri Gulshan Bamra informed the committee that under the PM Janman Abhiyan, Madhya Pradesh has received a sanctioned amount of ₹7,300 crore. In the past five years, projects worth ₹812 crore have been approved, and ₹499 crore has been sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana. Under PM Janman’s beneficiary-oriented schemes, the state has achieved 100% coverage in providing essential documents such as Aadhaar cards, Jan Dhan bank accounts, Ayushman Bharat cards, caste certificates, Kisan Credit Cards, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits, and ration cards.
Mobile medical units are operating in remote villages. 106 hostels have been sanctioned for educational purposes. Under the Women and Child Development Department, 704 Anganwadi centers have been sanctioned, and a proposal for 135 new centers has been sent to the Government of India, out of which 628 are operational. Under the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Yojana, 8.43 lakh tribal families are now receiving piped water at home. Mobile towers are being installed in remote villages to improve mobile network connectivity.
Providing updates on the Forest Rights Act, Principal Secretary Shri. Bamra informed the committee that 2.89 lakh individual claims have been approved, while 87,000 claims are under re-examination. Additionally, more than 28,000 community forest rights have been recognized.
Members of the Parliamentary Committee included . Pratima Mandal, shri Arjun Kumar Sagar, shri. Jagannath Sarkar, Shri Harishchandra Meena, Shri Govind Muktappa Karjol, Shri Daggumalla Prasad Rao, Advocate Shri. Chandrashekhar, and Shri. Vishnu Dayal Ram from the Lok Sabha; and . Sumitra Balmik, Shri. Mithilesh Kumar, Shri Rwangra Narzary, Smt Phulo Devi Netam, Shri Devendra Pratap Singh, Dr. V. Sividasan, and Mrs. Mamta Thakur from the Rajya Sabha.
From the state government, Additional Chief Secretary for Higher Education Shri Anupam Rajan, Additional Chief Secretary for Panchayats smt. Deepali Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary for Finance shri Manish Rastogi, Principal Secretary Shri Manish Singh, Principal Secretary for Health and Medical Education shri Sandeep Yadav, Commissioner for Scheduled Castes shri Saurabh Kumar Suman, and other senior officials from concerning departments were present. Commissioner for Tribal Development shri. Shriman Shukla conducted the meeting.
