Eye on Assam polls: Government expediting proposal to change scheduled tribes classification rules

NEW DELHI: With an eye on Assam Assembly elections next year, the Narendra Modi government is expediting a proposal to change the criterion and procedure for classification of communities as scheduled tribes (ST).

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sent a Cabinet note changing the classification criteria of ST communities, paving the way for reconsideration of 300 proposals that have been stuck for the past three years. The change in procedure and criterion for classification would take away the veto powers of Registrar General of India, National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and Anthropological Society of India, said people close to the matter.

The alacrity with which the government has acted on the politically-sensitive decision that had been pending for two years would directly benefit Assam. The poll-bound state has 45 proposals pending for classification as scheduled tribes. These include Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Moran, Matak, Chutia, Amri Karbi, Karbi Mikir, Bodo Kachari and politicallycrucial 36 tea tribe communities.

What makes Assam’s case compelling for the Modi government is the fact that the state’s recommendations have been rejected by the Registrar General of India at least four times. According to current rules, if the Registrar General of India rejects a proposal twice, it cannot be presented again.

With the change in rules, these proposals would get legal sanctity to be considered again. Under the new procedure, a committee of secretaries, headed by secretary (tribal affairs), would take the final call on classification of a community as scheduled tribe after considering the opinions of Registrar General of India, National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and Anthropological Society of India. The entire procedure would be wrapped up in six months.

With the BJP aiming to gain ground in Assam, the ST status for these communities would help its cause as the number of reserved constituencies would increase.

The Cabinet note has been sent after taking the views of states, which largely backed the move. Of the 30 states, 16 responded and supported the move with some suggestions.