Based on Census figures, all India Scheduled Tribe (ST) literacy rate has increased from 47.1% in 2001 to 59.0% in 2011. ST literacy rate is lower by about 14 percentage points as compared to overall literacy rate (73%) in 2011. However, this gap has narrowed from 22.6 percentage points in 1991 and 17.7 percentage points in 2001 to 14 percentage points in 2011.
As per data published by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for Scheduled Tribe students at Senior Secondary (classes XI-XII) level has increased from 35.4% in 2013-14 to 43.1% in 2015-16. Similarly, in respect of Higher Education, GER has increased from 11.3% in 2013-14 to 15.4% in 2016-17. Gender Parity Index (GPI) for Scheduled Tribe students at Senior Secondary level has also improved from 0.93 in 2013-14 to 0.97 in 2015-16. At Higher Education level, GPI has increased from 0.81 in 2013-14 to 0.85 in 2016-17. Further, Drop-out rates for ST students at classes I-X have declined from 70.9% in 2010-11 to 62.4% in 2013-14.
This information was given by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
