Replying to an un-starred question today in Lok Sabha the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed that Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the following Scholarship Schemes to ensure that tribal communities have greater access to quality education across the country including the Seemancgal region of Bihar:

i) Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)

ii) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)

iii) National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.

iv) National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students(Top Class)

v) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students.

           Out of the schemes mentioned above, the scholarship schemes at Sl.No (i) to (ii) are Centrally Sponsored Schemes and implemented through respective State/UT. Both Pre & Post Matric Scholarship Schemes are open ended Schemes wherein scholarships are given to all ST students for pursuing studies from class 9th to Post-Graduation courses whose parental incomedoes not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum. The inviting of applications, verification, selection of beneficiaries and disbursement of scholarship amount is the responsibility of the respective State/UT. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, releases central share funds to States/UTs based on proposals submitted by them and after examining financial and physical progress. State Governments/Union Territory Administrations disburse the scholarship amount to all the eligible ST Student's bank account through DBT mode.

The Schemes at Sl. No. (iii) to (v) are Central Sector Schemes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. There are no state-wise allocation of slots and funds under these Central Sector Schemes. Under National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students, funds are directly released to the Students/Institutions through DBT mode, whereas Schemes at Sl.No. (v) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students is implemented through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the funds are released to ST students studying abroad through Embassies, further Ministry of Tribal Affairs reimburse the funds to MEA.

Also, a key step towards improvement of access to education for tribal children is establishment of hostels for tribal students, which is one of the interventions under DAJGUA scheme of this Ministry. The scheme is implemented by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in convergence with Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL). The status of implementation of hostels under DAJGUA including Seemanchal region of Bihar is as follows (as of 08.12.2025):

Figure in number

 

As reported by State Govt. of Bihar, the details of district-wise number of tribal students from Seemanchal region who have received Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes during the last three years is as under: -

S. No.	District	Scheme Name	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
1	Kishanganj	Pre Matric	438	236	296
		Post Matric	11	6	In process
2	Araria	Pre Matric	235	92	212
		Post Matric	38	13	In process
3	Purnea	Pre Matric	1381	452	904
		Post Matric	210	67	In process
4	Katihar	Pre Matric	993	442	870
		Post Matric	235	95	In process

State Govt. of Bihar has informed that under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, the scholarship amount is paid immediately on the basis of attendance till 30th September every year. Due to Aadhaar authentication and direct benefit transfer, the quality of implementation of the scheme has increased and there is no possibility of delay. Further, under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, applications are verified at multiple levels by the concerned institution as well as the District Education Officer’s office, which may take some time. Thereafter, the scholarship amount is transferred to the students immediately through Direct Benefit Transfer.

In Union Budget of 2018-19, Government of India announced that to provide quality education to the tribal children in their own environment, EMRSs will be established in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). None of the blocks in Seemanchal region of Bihar, particularly in the districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea, and Katihar fulfil the twin criteria required for sanctioning an EMRS.

At present, there is no such proposals under consideration in this Ministry. However, under the DAJGUA scheme of this Ministry, State Government may recommend consideration of Grants in Aid for hostel. Fund is released after approval of Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) constituted in the Ministry.

Also, Government is implementing Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) as a strategy for the development of Scheduled Tribes and areas having tribal concentration in the country. Besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 41 Ministries/Departments are mandated to allocate certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development under DAPST to bridge the developmental gap between Scheduled Tribes (STs) and non-ST populations and for various tribal development projects relating to education, health, agriculture, irrigation, roads, housing, electrification, employment generation, skill development, etc.

Ministry-wise and scheme wise details of DAPST funds for welfare of Scheduled Tribes can be seen at Statement 10B of Union Budget document at https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/stat10b.pdf.

RN

(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2202378) आगंतुक पटल : 90