Lok Sabha Question No. 4039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Inclusion of Communities in Assam's ST List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4039

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/12/2024

## INCLUSION OF COMMUNITIES IN ASSAM'S ST LIST

4039. Shri Pradyut Bordoloi: Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa: Shri Phani Bhusan Choudhury:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) the total population of tribals staying in Assam and the percentage of tribal population getting reservation thereof;
- (b) whether a proposal has been received or any bill/legislation was introduced for the inclusion of the Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribe communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list of Assam and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  said  proposal  has  received  approval  from  the  Registrar  General  of  India  and  National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, if so, the details  and the  current  status  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d) the reasons for not including the above six communities in Assam's ST list and the timeline by which such inclusion would take place;
- (e) whether the same communities are getting the tribal status in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and not is Assam and if so, the details thereof;
- (f)  whether the Government has formulated any measures to secure the well-being of the six communities without disturbing the rights and quotas of the existing Schedule Tribes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g)  whether  any  proposal  in  this  regard  has  been  received  by  the  State  Government  of  Assam  from  the Committee of Ministers created to examine this matter and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a ): As per inputs received from the State, the total population of schedules tribes staying in Assam is 38, 84,371 and the percentage of tribal population getting reservation is 12.4% (as per census of 2011).
- (b) to (d): The proposal for inclusion of Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes has been received from the State Government of Assam.

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 actions on the proposals are taken as per these approved modalities.

- (e): The said communities are not listed in the Scheduled Tribes list of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
- (f): The State Government of Assam has informed that 'a Committee of Group of Ministers was constituted earlier  to  determine  quantum  of  reservation  for  six  communities  in  the  State,  suggest  revised  quantum  of

reservation for OBCs after creation of a new ST category in Assam and measures ensuring full safeguard to protect the interests, rights and privileges of the existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam. The erstwhile Committee held  several  rounds  of  discussions  with  representatives  and  leaders  of  various  communities  as  well  as  tribal groups. The same Committee has now been reconstituted on 04/07/2024'.

(g): No such proposal has been received from the state Government of Assam.

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