Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo on Tuesday introduced a bill in Lok Sabha to include the Narikorava community from Tamil Nadu and two others from Chhattisgarh in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The bill titled The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013 pertains to the inclusion of Narikorava, grouped with Kurivikkaran community from Tamil Nadu, and Dhanuhar and Dhanuwar communities from Chhattisgarh in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
It may be recalled that on August 27, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to the Prime Minister requesting him to intervene personally in the matter and to take appropriate action for the inclusion of “Narikorava grouped with Kuruvikkaran Community” in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tamil Nadu in the requisite consolidated amendment, as envisaged under Article 342(1) and 342(2) of the Constitution of India and to ensure that the necessary legislation is moved in the current session of Parliament itself.”
Based on the Tamil Nadu CM’s request, the Union Cabinet during the third week of September gave approval to include the community in ST List.
The community’s inclusion in ST list will guarantee children the right to government jobs on par with other Scheduled Tribes.
After the bill is passed and law comes into force, houses under the government’s group housing scheme would not be a problem for the members, who otherwise live in tents on roadside, especially in districts like Tiruchy, Perambalur, Thanjavur and Ariyalur.