The Centre on Monday told the Rajya Sabha that of the 2.01 crore people belonging to the Scheduled Tribes community, 36.38% do not have a source of drinking water in their homes. Data from Census 2011 revealed that these households have their main drinking water source away from their homes, Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Narendra Singh Tomar said during the Question Hour in Parliament, PTI reported.

Speaking during the ongoing Monsoon Session, Tomar noted that the budget allocated to implement the National Rural Drinking Water Programme was inadequate. "It is correct that the availability of funds is certainly less...We will review the programme and will provide sufficient funds," he said.

Of the Rs 5,000 crore earmarked for the scheme in the 2016-17 financial year, the Centre released Rs 213.57 crore to states till July 27, he added. Also, 10% of these funds was allocated to be used to ensure drinking water supply to predominatly ST-occupied regions, the minister said. Tomar added that the government aims to ensure that 90% of rural homes have piped water supply and 80% of them have households connections.