Bill to grant ST status to Assam communities to be introduced in Rajya Sabha

Guwahati, January 9, 2019:

A Bill is meant to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha to amend the constitution to grant ST status to communities of Assam.

The purpose is to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950 and the following entries are to be inserted: Chutia, Motok, Moran, Koch-Rajbongshi, Tai-Ahom, Mal Paharia, Kawar, Lodha, Baiga, Nagasia, Bhil, Gorait, Halba, Majwar, Dhanwar, Asur, Pradhan, Khond, Korwa, Kherwar, Chero, Koya, Birhor, Parja, Mirdha, Kishan, Chik Baraik, Kol, Saora, Birjia, Damdari, Bonda, Mahli, Shabar, Kharia, Gond, Munda, Oraon, Bedia, Santal, Bhumij, respectively.

Scheduled Tribes have been defined in clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution as “such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this constitution.”

As per recommendations of the State of Assam, it has been decided for the inclusion of the communities in the Schedule to the Constitution Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950, in Part II – Assam, in paragraph II, after entry.

The Bill assures that the government will incur no extra costs in order to provide benefits to these communities and costs will be incurred from existing schemes.