One important addition was made by Parliament on February 7 for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Out of these, four belong to Odisha, while three are from Andhra Pradesh. These tribal groups are considered particularly vulnerable due to various socio-economic factors and are in need of special attention and support for their upliftment and well-being.
Amending Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists in Odisha
On February 8th, 2024, Parliament amended the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill for Odisha. The bill was introduced by Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda. Later, it received unanimous approval in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, followed by endorsement in the Lok Sabha within two days.
The amendments, based on recommendations from the Odisha Government, Registrar General of India, and National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, aim to modify the existing lists of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Odisha.
The key amendments focus on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950:
Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950: Entries 87 (Tamadia) and 88 (Tamudia) will be omitted from the Schedule to Part XIII (Odisha) in the SC Order, 1950, relocating these communities to Entry 8 of the State’s ST list.
Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950: Four Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) will be added in Odisha, including:
- Entry 6: “Pauri Bhuyan, Paudi Bhuyan” as synonyms of “Bhuiya, Bhuyan”
- Entry 9: “Chuktia Bhunjia” as a synonym of “Bhunjia”
- Entry 13: “Bondo” as a sub-entry under “Bondo Poraja, Bonda Paroja, Banda Paroja”
- Entry 47: “Mankidia” as a synonym of “Mankirdia”
Additionally, two new entries are introduced based on the Odisha Government’s recommendations:
- Entry 63: “Muka Dora, Mooka Dora, Nuka Dora, Nooka Dora” (in undivided Koraput District)
- Entry 64: “Konda Reddy, Konda Reddi”
These amendments align with constitutional provisions set forth in Articles 341 and 342, with the first list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes established in 1950. These changes hold particular significance for Odisha, where the ST list was last modified in 2002.
The amendments reflect a significant step in acknowledging and addressing the needs, particularly for vulnerable tribal groups all across India.
Recent government initiatives like the PM PVTG Development Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan emphasize the commitment to uplift the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities.
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Parliament Unanimously Approves the Amendment Bills:
Both the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024, received overwhelming support from MPs across all parties. After the endorsement from both the houses, the official changes will take place and signed by the president.
Opposition Calls for a Comprehensive Approach:
During the discussion, opposition members advocated for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to evaluate all demands for ST status nationwide. The amendment bills create a historic moment, reflecting the government’s commitment to tribal welfare, as highlighted by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Bharati Pravin Pawar.
