(a) the basis/criteria being adopted in various States for issuing caste certificate to STs;
(b) whether the Government has received complaints regarding difficulties faced by STs in
getting caste certificate;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to streamline the process of issuing
caste certificate?
MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS(SHRI P. R. KYNDIAH)
(a) The guidelines for issuance of Scheduled Tribes certificates have been laid down in
Ministry of Home Affairs’s circular no. 35/1/72-RU (SCT.V) dated 2-5-75 sent to all State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The basic general criteria being adopted for
issue of Scheduled Tribe certificate are - where a person claims to belong to a Scheduled Tribe
by birth it should be verified
(i) the person and his parents actually belong to the community
claimed;
(ii) the community is included in the Presidential Order specifying the Scheduled
Tribes in relation to the concerned State;
(iii) the person belongs to that State and to the
area within the State in respect of which the community has been scheduled;
(iv) he may profess
any religion and
(v) he or his parents/grand parents etc. should be permanent resident of the
State/UT on the date of notification of the Presidential Order applicable in his case.
(b) & (c) Yes, Sir. The issue has been brought to the notice of the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs including by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
(d) Regarding issuance of Scheduled Tribes certificates, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
have requested all the concerned States/UT Administrations that it is necessary that proper
verification, based primarily on revenue records and in accordance with the name of the community
as notified in the Presidential Order, is carried out before such certificates are issued.
Further, they have also been asked to ensure that the necessary certificates are issued to the
deserving Scheduled Tribe persons without undue delays and difficulties.