Lok Sabha Question No. 3223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Inclusion of Valmiki Community in ST List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri G Lakshminarayana, Dr. Byreddy Shabari, Smt. D K Aruna

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3223

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## INCLUSION OF VALMIKI COMMUNITY IN ST LIST

## 3223.  SMT. D K ARUNA:

DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:

## SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has received any proposals from the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana  to  include  the  Valmiki  or  Boya  community  in  the  Scheduled  Tribes  (ST)  list,  who  are  presently categorized under Backward Classes (BC) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the reasons for any delay in the evaluation and approval of the said proposals along with the action taken thereon;
- (c) whether the Government has set any criteria to assess the said proposals and constituted an expert committee to review those and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether it  is  a  fact  that  the  Valmiki  or  Boya  community  do  not  have  any  caste-based  profession,  lack  a continuous income source and is considered among the weaker sections and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the said community has already been granted Scheduled Tribe status in Karnataka and in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, especially in Srikakulam district and if so, the details thereof;

(f)  whether,  based  on  the  recommendations  of  Chellappa  Committee,  Telangana  Legislative  Assembly  has passed unanimous resolution twice to include the community in the ST list and sent the proposal to the Union Government and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon; and

(g) the expected timeline for a final decision on the inclusion of the said community in the ST list?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) to (c) & (g): The Ministry has received proposal for inclusion of Valmiki/Boya in the Scheduled Tribes list from  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and  the  proposal  for  inclusion  of  Valmiki  Boyas  in  the Scheduled Tribes list of Telangana from the State Government of Telangana.

The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) has laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying

Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes  lists.  As  per  the  modalities,  only  those  proposals  which  have  been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government / UT Administration and concurred with by Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. All action on the proposals is taken as per these approved modalities. The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union Territory follow certain processes as per the modalities. This is a continuous process. Proposals received from the State Government should be accompanied by an ethnographic report. The proposals are examined by the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST. In case the proposal is  not  recommended by the RGI, the State Governments are communicated the points  raised  by  the  RGI,  so  that  additional  information,  if  any,  maybe  furnished  by  the  State  Government. Many such proposals may, therefore, remain under examination at different levels. (d): Valmiki  Boya are adept in hunting and  collection of honey  combs from crevices of overhanging rocks. Majority  of  them  are  now  agriculturists.  Having  regard  to  their  low  social  status,  poverty  and  educational backwardness, the community is considered as a socially and educationally backward. (e): Valmiki community is notified as Scheduled Tribe in the Scheduled Tribe list of Andhra Pradesh at entry 30  as  'Valmiki  (Scheduled  Areas  of  Vishakhapatnam,  Srikakulam,  Vijayanagram,  East  Godavari  and  West Godavari districts)' and in the Scheduled Tribe list of Karnataka at entry  38 as 'Naikda, Nayaka (including Parivara and Talawara), Cholivala Nayaka, Kapadia Nayaka, Mota Nayaka, Nana Nayaka, Naik, Nayak, Beda, Bedar, and Valmiki.' The Telangana State Assembly has passed a resolution for inclusion of Valmiki Boya community in ST list of  Telangana.  Government  of  Telangana  vide  their  letter  No.  3646/TW.LTR/2018  TW  (LTR)  Dept.,  dated

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(f): 16.11.2021 submitted a proposal to this Ministry.