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The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes held a meeting on August 18, 2005 at 6.00 p.m. in the Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi with the Scheduled Tribes Members of Parliament and representatives of tribal associations and NGOs with a view to discuss a variety of issues relating to the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes. The meeting was chaired by Shri Kunwar Singh, Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The focus of the discussions was in relation to conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to Scheduled Tribes living in forest areas, improving the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups displaced by development projects, prevention of alienation of tribal people from land and effective rehabilitation of such people in whose case alienation had already taken place, and safeguarding rights of tribal communities over mineral resources, water resources etc. as laid down by law. The discussion also covered certain other important issues such as Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005, SC/STs and OBCs (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2004, the growing problem of issue of false community certificates, delimitation of Parliamentary/Assembly constituencies on the basis of their population taking into account the new communities recognized as STs after conclusion of 2001 Census and increasing the percentage of reservation for Scheduled Tribes in proportion to increase in their population. The participants welcomed the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005 and desired that Govt. should expedite the introduction of the Bill in the Parliament in its present form without any delay. It was observed that the menace of issue of false community certificates was assuming alarming proportions and it was high time effective steps were taken to contain this problem.
New Delhi: Sravana 27,1927
August 18, 2005 , Ministry of Tribal Affairs and DONER
AVC/SB/GK
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