Question : INCLUSION OF MOST BACKWARD CASTES IN STS LIST

(a) whether the Government has received any proposal to include most backward castes like Lohar, Mullah, Nonia, Dhanuv, Beend, Hazzam, Kahar, Kanu, Kumhar, Garderia, Kewat etc. in the list of scheduled tribes from the State of Bihar and the Confederation of the aforesaid castes;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the said castes have been included in the list of scheduled tribes in other States;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Union Government had sought the opinion of the State Government in this regard earlier also; and

(f) if so, the action taken/likely to be taken by the Union Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RANEE NARAH)

(a) This Ministry has not received any proposal for inclusion of castes like Lohar, Mullah, Nonia, Dhanuv, Beend, Hazzam, Kahar, Kanu, Kumhar, Garderia, Kewat etc. in the list of scheduled tribes from the State of Bihar and the Confederation of the aforesaid castes.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) The Lohar, Mullah, Nonia, Dhanuv, Beend, Hazzam, Kahar, Kanu, Kumhar, Garderia, Kewat castes have not been included in the list of Scheduled Tribes in other states.

(d) Does not arise.

(e) & (f) This Ministry had requested the State Government of Bihar to furnish their comments along with ethnographic report and other supporting documents in respect of Kanu, Lohar, Kumhar, Dhanuk, Mallaha, Noniya, Kahar, Beend, Tatwa, Tanti, Gangot, Kenwat, Gaderia, Turha and Nagar castes for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Bihar.

The Government of Bihar had informed that proposals for inclusion of Kanu, Lohar, Kumhar, Mallaha, Noniya, Kahar, Beend, Tatwa, Tanti and Turha communities in the list of Scheduled Castes have submitted to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. As for the remaining communities for inclusion either in Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes list, there are no proposals under consideration with the State Government.