Union Minister Discusses ST Status for Assam Communities

Union Minister's Statement on Scheduled Tribe Status

Guwahati, June 30: On Tuesday, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram announced that the six communities in Assam seeking Scheduled Tribe (ST) status will need to wait longer. He emphasized that the process of inclusion or exclusion under Article 342 of the Constitution is comprehensive and requires the involvement of various constitutional authorities.

During a review of the Assam Tribal Affairs (Plain) Department's operations at Koinadhara in Guwahati, alongside Assam's Minister for Education and Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes, Ranoj Pegu, and senior officials, Oram stated that a decision from the Centre will only be made after the constitutional procedures are fully followed.

Oram explained, "The process of inclusion and exclusion under Article 342 is lengthy and well-structured. It necessitates recommendations from the State Government, scrutiny by the Registrar General of India, evaluation by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and ultimately, consideration by the Central Government. Given the number of institutions involved, this process understandably takes time. The Central Government will make a suitable decision at the right moment."

He also mentioned that issues related to communities under the Sixth Schedule were discussed during the review meeting, assuring that both the Centre and the Assam government will collaborate to resolve outstanding matters concerning tribal welfare.

The meeting reviewed the execution of several key tribal welfare initiatives, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), grants under Article 275(1), the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, and scholarship schemes for pre-matric and post-matric students, along with proposals for the inclusion and correction of tribal communities.

Oram noted that the review focused on the progress of ongoing efforts to enhance the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities throughout the state.

"Today, we evaluated the activities of the Tribal Affairs Department. Together with Minister Ranoj Pegu, we discussed the functioning of Eklavya Model Residential Schools and the status of new schools that are proposed for establishment. We also reviewed the progress of Van Dhan Kendras and deliberated on promoting livelihoods and marketing products created by tribal self-help groups," he stated.

Highlighting the advancements of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana in Assam, Oram mentioned that 490 Van Dhan Kendras are planned across the state, with 350 already operational.

"We discussed strategies to further strengthen these centres to ensure that tribal communities gain sustainable livelihood opportunities and improved market access for their products," he added.

The meeting also assessed the implementation of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing living standards in tribal villages.

Oram remarked, "Under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, nearly 27 interventions are being executed, addressing housing, healthcare, drinking water, tuberculosis screening, and various other essential services. The programme is making good progress in Assam, and we discussed methods to ensure its effective implementation."

In addition to reviewing the scholarship schemes for tribal students, officials also talked about the proposed tribal museum intended to preserve and showcase the rich art, culture, and traditional artifacts of Assam's tribal communities.

The meeting further scrutinized pending proposals related to the inclusion and correction of tribal communities within the constitutional framework.