Assam Commission Recommends ST Status for Six Communities Amid Protests
A report recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities in Assam was tabled in the Assembly amidst protests.
Photo by Jose Manuel Esp
त्वरित संशोधन
Report recommends ST status for 6 communities in Assam
Communities: Tea Tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran, Chutia
Existing ST groups protest due to fear of dilution of benefits
Commission headed by former Chief Secretary Subhash Das
महत्वपूर्ण संख्याएं
दृश्य सामग्री
Assam: Epicenter of ST Status Demands
This map highlights Assam, the state where a commission has recommended Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities. The issue has sparked protests from existing tribal groups concerned about the dilution of their reservations and benefits, showcasing complex socio-political dynamics.
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परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Constitutional provisions related to Scheduled Tribes (Articles 342, 338A, 15, 16, 330, 332).
Process of inclusion/exclusion from ST list and the role of various bodies (President, Parliament, NCST).
Criteria for identification of STs and the historical context.
Socio-political implications of affirmative action and identity politics.
Specific socio-economic and historical background of the communities involved (e.g., Tea Tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom).
Challenges in balancing the rights of existing STs with the demands of new claimants.
विस्तृत सारांश देखें
सारांश
A report recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities in Assam was recently tabled in the state Assembly, sparking protests from existing tribal groups. The Commission for Review and Assessment of the Problems of Tea Tribes and Other Five Communities of Assam, headed by former Chief Secretary Subhash Das, submitted its findings. The six communities seeking ST status are Tea Tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran, and Chutia.
Existing ST groups fear that granting this status to new communities would dilute their reservations and benefits. This issue highlights the complex socio-political dynamics surrounding affirmative action and identity politics in India, particularly in states with diverse ethnic populations.
पृष्ठभूमि
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in India: 1. The communities of Tea Tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran, and Chutia are seeking Scheduled Tribe status in Assam. 2. The power to include or exclude any community from the list of Scheduled Tribes rests with the President, after consultation with the Governor of the concerned state, and subsequent parliamentary approval. 3. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is mandated to inquire into specific complaints regarding the deprivation of rights and safeguards of STs, and also advises on the inclusion or exclusion of communities from the ST list. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1 is correct as per the news article. Statement 2 is correct; Article 342 of the Constitution empowers the President to 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. Any subsequent modification (inclusion or exclusion) requires an Act of Parliament. The process involves consultation with the state government. Statement 3 is also correct; the NCST, established under Article 338A, has the duty to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the STs under the Constitution or under any other law, and to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the STs, and to evaluate the progress of their development. It also advises on the inclusion or exclusion of communities from the ST list.
2. Which of the following are generally considered as criteria for the identification of Scheduled Tribes in India? 1. Distinctive culture and traditional practices. 2. Geographical isolation and shyness of contact with the general community. 3. Economic backwardness and primitive traits. 4. Being a linguistic minority. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1, 2 and 3 only
- B.2, 3 and 4 only
- C.1, 3 and 4 only
- D.1, 2, 3 and 4
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
The criteria for identification of Scheduled Tribes, as laid down by various committees (e.g., Lokur Committee, 1965), generally include: primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. Being a linguistic minority, while often correlated with tribal identity, is not a standalone or primary criterion for ST identification. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct, while statement 4 is not a primary criterion.
3. In the context of the communities seeking Scheduled Tribe status in Assam, consider the following statements: 1. The Tai Ahom community traces its lineage to the Ahom kingdom, which ruled Assam for several centuries before the British. 2. The Koch Rajbongshi community is primarily concentrated in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam and parts of West Bengal, and has a history of independent kingdoms. 3. The 'Tea Tribes' are indigenous to Assam and have historically been involved in shifting cultivation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 2 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: C
Statement 1 is correct. The Tai Ahom community are descendants of the Ahom dynasty that established a powerful kingdom in Assam and ruled for nearly 600 years until the advent of the British. Statement 2 is correct. The Koch Rajbongshi community has a rich history, including the powerful Koch kingdom, and is indeed concentrated in lower Assam and parts of North Bengal. Statement 3 is incorrect. The 'Tea Tribes' (also known as Adivasis or Chota Nagpuris) are not indigenous to Assam. They were brought by the British colonial rulers from various parts of present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh during the 19th century to work as labourers in the tea plantations of Assam. Their traditional occupation was not shifting cultivation in Assam.