Lok Sabha Question No. 460 (STARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Development of ST in Kerala
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO- *460

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 03/04/2023

## DEVELOPMENT OF ST IN KERALA

*460. SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the amount allocated by the Government for the development of Scheduled Tribes in Kerala for the year 2020-22;
- (b) the details of the amount allocated for the education of Scheduled Tribes in districts of Kerala including Kottayam during the last five years;
- (c)  the  difficulties  faced  by  the  tribals  in  getting  caste  certificate  and  its verification; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to simplify the said process?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. * 460 for answer on 03.04.2023

(a) to (b): Government of Kerala informed that  Rs. 635.43 crore in 2020-21 and Rs. 630.78 crore in 2021-22 have been allocated by the Union Government and Government of Kerala for the welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes in Kerala.

Funds are released by the Union Government to the States/UTs based on the proposal submitted  by  them.  Ministries/Departments  do  not  provide  funds   directly  to  the districts, however, as informed by Government of Kerala, they have allocated funds to the districts of the state  including Kottayam  for education  to the tune of  Rs.170.13 crore, Rs.123.00 crore, Rs.147.50 crore and Rs.163.38 crore  during the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively.

- (c)  to  (d): The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  is  the  nodal  Ministry  for  issuance  of Notification of a community as Scheduled Tribe under Article 342 of the Constitution.

Two directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court are relevant in this regard.

- i. Hon'ble Supreme Court in its decision dated 28-11-2000 in case No. 652 of 2000 (Civil Appeal No. 2294 of 1986) State of Maharashtra Vs. Milind regarding order issued under Article 341 and 342 of Constitution had held (refer Para 29 of the decision) which inter-alia states as under: -

'STs Order must be read as it is.  It is not even permissible to say that a tribe, subtribe,  part  of  or  group  of  any  tribe  or  tribal  community  is  synonymous  to  the  one mentioned in STs Order, if they are not so specifically mentioned in it.'

- ii. As  per  directives  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India,  in  decision  dated 02.09.1994 in case of Kumari Madhuri Patil &  Others vs. Addl. Commissioner,  Tribal  Development  Department  (State  of  Maharashtra)  and Others,  each  State  Government  has  to  set  up  Caste  Certificate  Scrutiny Committee to validate certificate issued to a person by District Authorities and also verify caste status of claimant on receipt of a complaint or a request from Government/ appointing authorities. Further, Caste certificate holder has to get his/her  certificate  validated  from  Committee  before  applying  for  any  benefits from Government.

Therefore,  the  responsibility  for  issuance  of  Scheduled  Tribe  Certificate  and verification of social status rests with the concerned State Government / Union Territory Administration and the 'State Government Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee', as per said guidelines of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.

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