This information was given by Shri. Tushar A. Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

This National Tribal Policy has been formulated in order to address the critical issues concerning tribals viz. lower Human Development Index, poor infrastructure, diminishing control over the natural resource base, persistent threats of eviction from their natural habitat, exclusion from mainstream society, inequality in distribution of wealth and opportunities, non-empowerment and inadequate implementation of Constitutional provisions and to ensure their active and informed participation in development. The draft policy aims at ensuring access of the Scheduled Tribes to mainstream education, health care and income generation to improve the quality of their life.