(a) whether the Government has identified such tribes which do not have the characteristics of a Scheduled Tribe as per Section 1 of Article 342 of the Constitution but these castes are enjoying the benefit of reservation and other benefits while some of the castes have not availed the reservation as yet;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto?
(a)&(c): Ministry of Tribal Affairs is nodal Ministry for specification of a community as Scheduled Tribes (STs) under Article 342 of the Constitution. Responsibility for issuance and verification of STs Certificate and social status rests with concerned State Government / UT Administration.
The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002) 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 for inclusion or exclusion of communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes is taken as per these approved modalities.
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