`Criteria for inclusion of tribes in ST list subjective`

New Delhi: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has found the criteria for inclusion of tribes in the Scheduled List "subjective" and "archaic" and recommended revision of the process for developing a comprehensive method.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment in its report on "The Constitution (ST) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012" has also said that it be apprised within three months on the steps taken to re-examine the process of inclusion of tribes in the Scheduled List. "The criterion for inclusion of tribes is too subjective and somewhat archaic. Therefore, the matter be revisited and a comprehensive criteria evolved both for inclusion and exclusion based on comprehensive anthropological and socio- economic studies and unassailable empirical evidence," the Committee said in its report. It also said the entire process of consultation regarding inclusion/exclusion of caste/community in the ST list be comprehensively re-examined and the committee apprised within three months of the presentation of this report to Parliament. The report was tabled in Parliament today. Regarding `Hill Korwa` and `Abhujh Maria` communities in of Chhattisgarh, the Committee recommended their inclusion in the ST list. However, it sought a justification from the Ministry as to why 75 groups in 17 states and one Union Territory after being identified and categorised as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) have not yet been accorded the ST status. "The Committee would like to be apprised of the grounds for not including these PTGs in the list of ST of respective states within three months of the presentation of this report along with the considered views of Registrar General of India, NCST and concerned states in the matter," it said. Regarding inclusion of `Marati` community from Kerala in the ST list, it said, "Government did not follow the prescribed procedure in the strictest manner as required while delisting the community in 2002-03." It said there are sufficient grounds and justification for re-inclusion of Marati community in the ST list of the state. "A whole generation of Marati community was deprived of the benefits of reservation between 2003, when it was delisted, and 2013 when it is sought to be re-included," the report said. The committee was headed by Hemanand Biswal, Chairman, Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment. It also instructed the government to initiate urgent action to pass the Bill in Parliament in the current session so as to rectify the "wrong" done to Marati community and also to include Hill Korwa and Abhuj Maria in ST list of respective states. PTI