Question : INCLUSION OF KARBIS IN SCHEDULED CASTES LIST

(a) whether the Government had received recommendations from Assam Government to include Karbis, Dimasas and Garos living outside autonomous district areas of Assam to be included in the Scheduled Tribes list;

(b) whether it is a fact that only Garos and Dimasas were included in the Scheduled Tribes list during the passing of an amendment Act in the last Session;

(c) if so, the reasons for excluding the Karbis;

(d) whether the Government propose to include Karbis now; and

(e) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done?

THE MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM):

(a) to (e) The Government of Assam had recommended that the Karbi, Dimasa and Garo communities living outside autonomous districts be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes. The Dimasa and Garos communities, according to the procedure approved for deciding such claims, has become eligible for inclusion. Accordingly, these have been included in the list. The Karbi community, according to the prescribed procedure, has not so far been included in the list of Scheduled Tribes. No specific time schedule can be indicated at this stage as the matter involves consultations with the State Government, the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.