Panel to look into tribal uplift

NEW DELHI: The government has set up a commission – its third since independence --to examine various issues of development and welfare of tribals, including the contentious issue of mining in tribal-dominated areas.

Headed by sociologist and National Advisory Council member Virginius Xaxa, the Third Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission will have as its members Usha Ramanathan, Joseph Bara, KK Misra, Abhay Bang and Sunila Basant.

The panel, which has six months to give an interim report and a final report in nine months, has been tasked with suggesting “policy initiatives as well as effective outcome-oriented measures to improve development indicators and strengthen public service delivery” to scheduled tribes. One of the key terms of reference for the commission is to look at the problem of mining in tribal areas – a contentious issue that has divided the union cabinet.

Speaking to ET on the commission’s, Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said the main challenge facing the tribals was the threat of illegal mining. “There are many options that the panel could look at, including giving licenses for mining only to registered societies working for tribal welfare or giving a royalty to these tribals for the minerals mined from their areas. But there should be a permanent solution that is required,” he said.

The commission could also look into the addition of a new Schedule in the Constitution to recognise traditional tribal governing institutions as institutions of the state. Currently, administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in all states, except northeastern ones is governed by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.