Ministry of Tribal Affairs Tamil Nadu Development Programs

The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Rajya Sabha about the government's commitment to socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu through various schemes implemented in convergence with the State Government. The Ministry released a total of ₹244.6 crore across 15 schemes over three financial years (2023-24 to 2025-26).

Educational Initiatives

The Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme received ₹12.35 crore benefiting 56,249 ST students studying in Classes IX-X, with parental income limit of ₹2.50 lakh per annum providing ₹225/month for day scholars and ₹525/month for hostellers. The Post-Matric Scholarship received the highest funding at ₹71.33 crore benefiting 84,728 students pursuing higher education with similar income criteria, providing fee reimbursement and monthly scholarships ranging from ₹230 to ₹1,200 depending on course.

Eight Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are functional in Tamil Nadu with total enrolment of 2,909 students in 2025-26 across districts: Kallakurichi (322 students), Kanchipuram (266), Namakkal (441), Salem-Peddanaickenpalayam (461), Salem-Yercaud (318), The Nilgiris (248), Tiruvannamalai (470), and Tirupattur (383). These schools provide quality residential education comparable to Navodaya Vidyalayas with facilities for preserving local art and culture.

The National Scholarship for Higher Education (Top Class) supported 26, 27, and 28 students in 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 respectively across multiple districts including Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, and Salem. The National Fellowship for ST Students (NFST) supported 20, 19, and 17 PhD scholars during the same period across various districts. No students from Tamil Nadu were selected for the National Overseas Scholarship in the last three years.

Livelihood and Economic Development

The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) disbursed ₹32.66 crore (7,327 beneficiaries), ₹12.10 crore (6,437 beneficiaries), and ₹9.29 crore (6,183 beneficiaries) in loans, micro-credit and skill development during 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 respectively. Under PM-JANMAN and PMJVM, 45 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras were established with ₹240.15 lakh sanctioned, of which 36 are operational with total sales of ₹311.31 lakh, associating over 4,800 Van Dhan SHG members.

Health and Infrastructure Grants

Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations in health sector benefited 98,098 tribal beneficiaries in 2023-24, 146,040 in 2024-25, and 79,713 in 2025-26 through hospitals and mobile dispensaries in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and Salem districts. Grants under Article 275(1) of Constitution totaled ₹34.70 crore over three years for infrastructure development in tribal areas.

Special Initiatives

The Development of PVTGs scheme received ₹27.23 crore in 2025-26. PM-JANMAN – Multi-Purpose Centres received ₹25.87 crore in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) launched on 2nd October 2024 with ₹0.20 crore and ₹0.02 crore allocated in 2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively, aiming to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages with total budgetary outlay of ₹79,156 crore.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) for socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities has total budgetary outlay of ₹24,104 crore implemented through 11 interventions including hostels and mobile medical units.

Socio-economic Indicators

NFHS-5 data shows ST children in Tamil Nadu face higher malnutrition rates with 31.2% stunted, 20.6% wasted, and 31.1% underweight compared to state averages of 25.0%, 14.6%, and 22.0% respectively. Only 54.7% of ST women have own mobile phone and 80.9% have bank accounts operated by themselves, below state averages of 74.6% and 92.2% respectively.

Gross Enrolment Ratio data for 2025-26 shows ST students outperforming state averages at preparatory (112.7 vs 89.5) and middle (115.0 vs 94.2) levels, while nearly matching at secondary level (91.3 vs 91.4).

Monitoring and Implementation

Progress is monitored through STCMIS portal, PM-JANMAN Dashboard on PM Gati Shakti portal, regular review meetings with State Governments, and periodic assessment through Population Census, NFHS and third-party evaluation studies. The initiatives combine infrastructure creation with preservation and promotion of tribal culture and identity through Tribal Research Institutes, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Adi Mahotsav, and cultural components in EMRS curriculum.