Lok Sabha Question No. 4425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Political Representation and Participation of Tribal Communities
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4425

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

## 4425. SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures being taken to ensure greater political representation and participation of tribal communities at local, State and national levels;
- (b) the manner in which the Government is supporting tribal representation in legislative bodies such as the Parliament and the State Assemblies to ensure that their concerns are adequately addressed;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the role of Tribal Advisory Councils (TACs) and ensure that tribal voices are heard in policy-making decisions;
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  addressing  the  under-representation  of  tribal  communities  in Government services including civil services along with the steps taken to create more opportunities for tribal youth; and
- (e) the strategies being implemented to empower tribal women in political decision-making processes and ensure their active participation in local governance?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b): The  Government  has  undertaken  several  measures  to  ensure  greater  political  representation  and participation of tribal communities at various levels, based on the provisions enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India provides for the political representation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) through reservation of seats in local bodies, State Assemblies, and the Parliament. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Article 330 of the Constitution provide for reserved seats for STs in the Lok Sabha to ensure their political participation at the national level. Article 332 mandates the reservation of seats for STs in the State Legislative Assemblies, ensuring their representation at the State level. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act mandates the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats at the local level. This ensures political representation of  tribal  communities  in  local  governance.  Similarly,  the  74th  Constitutional  Amendment  Act  mandates  the reservation of seats for STs in Municipalities.
- (c): As per the provisions at paragraph 4 of the Fifth Schedule under Article 244(1) of the Constitution the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) is established in the States having Scheudled to advise on such matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of STs as may be referred by the Governor. The TACs advise the State Government on matters related to the welfare and advancement of Scheduled Tribes.
- (d): Reservation is provided to STs @ 7.5% in promotions as well as in direct recruitment on all India basis in posts and services under the Central Government. Further, the reserved candidates selected on merit are appointed against  UR vacancies. After the introduction of post-based reservation roster, exchange of reservation is not possible and thus the posts reserved for STs can be filled only by candidates belonging to ST category. As per the data furnished by the Ministries/Departments, the representation of STs in posts and services is more than the prescribed percentage of 7.5% as on 01.01.2024.
- (e): "Panchayat", being "Local Government", is a State subject and part of State List of Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India. Part-IX of the Constitution, relating to Panchayats, ensures participation of people residing in  rural  areas  by  way  of  conducting  direct  elections  to  all  the  seats  in  a  Panchayat  as  well  as  direct/indirect elections to the offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats to establish three-tires of Panchayati Raj System. Article 243D of the Constitution ensures participation of women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes in Panchayati

Raj Institutions (PRIs) by mandating not less than one-third reservation out of total number of seats and offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats. States have been empowered to make provisions for reservation of seats or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at any level in favor of Backward class of citizens.

Due to consistent follow-up actions with States for implementing constitutional provisions for PRIs, 21 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs) have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), which includes tribal women also in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules encouraging increased participation in the grassroots governance. In respect of remaining States/UTs, Constitutional provision as prescribed in Article 243D applies.

The Government of India holds extensive exercise of capacity building of Elected Representatives, including Elected  Tribal  Women  Representatives,  through  the  scheme  of  Rashtriya  Gram  Swaraj  Abhiyan.  The Government  of  India  has  also  been  encouraging  increased  involvement  of  women  in  the  functioning  of Panchayats  through  active  participation  in  the  Gram  Sabha  meetings  for  preparation  of  Gram  Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats.

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