Six Assam groups to be accorded ST status

Six Assam groups to be accorded ST status

News:

Bill to declare six communities in Assam as Scheduled Tribes (ST) to be introduced in the parliament

Important Facts:

• Centre proposes to give the ST status to Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran and Tea Tribes.
• Once the proposal is passed, it will change the demographic status of Assam, making it a tribal-majority State.
• Currently six communities in Assam are listed as Other Backward Classes.

Additional facts:

Who are Scheduled Tribes?

• The Constitution of India in Article 366 (25) prescribe that the Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 of the Constitution to be Scheduled Tribes.
• They are certain communities in the country suffering from extreme social, educational and economic backwardness on account of the primitive agricultural practices, lack of infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation.

The provisions under Article 342:

• Article 342(1) Scheduled Tribes – the President may with respect to any State or Union Territory after consultation with the Governor by a public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe.
• Parliament may be law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification.

Criteria for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe

• Indian Constitution is silent about the criteria for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe.
• The criteria presently followed for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe are:
  • Indications of primitive traits
  • Distinctive culture
  • Geographical isolation
  • Shyness of contact with the community at large
  • Backwardness
• The largest number of main tribal communities (62) has been specified in the State of Orissa. The Scheduled Tribes have been specified in relation to all the States and Union Territories except Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Pondicherry.