Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Original list

Proposed changes under the Bill

Abor

Removed from the List

Khampti

Tai Khamti

Mishmi, Idu, and Taroan

Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi), and Taraon (Digaru Mishmi)

Momba

Monpa, Memba, Sartang, and Sajolang (Miji)

Scheduled Tribe

• Article 366 of the Constitution: 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.
• Article 342: The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be.
• Criteria: The Constitution is silent about the criteria for the specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe. Primitiveness, geographical isolation, shyness and social, educational & economic backwardness are the traits that distinguish Scheduled Tribe communities from other communities.
• There are certain Scheduled Tribes, 75 in number known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), who are characterised by:- a) pre-agriculture level of technology; b) stagnant or declining population; c) extremely low literacy, and d) subsistence level of the economy.

Government Initiatives

• Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA)
• Provision of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
• Minor Forest Produce Act 2005 
• SC And ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act
• Tribal Sub-Plan Strategy is focused on the socio-economic empowerment of STs
• Tribal Health & Nutrition Portal – ‘Swasthya’