• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced by the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram, in Lok Sabha on December 14, 2016.  The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.

• The two Orders were issued by the President under the Constitution specifying the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of the various states.  The Constitution further provides that a law of Parliament is required to amend the Orders.

• Assam:  The Bill seeks to add the following communities to the list of STs in Assam: (i) Boro, Boro Kachari, Bodo, Bodo Kachari, and (ii) Karbi (Mikir).

• Chhattisgarh:  The Bill seeks to clarify equivalent names of the following communities that are already mentioned in the STs list: (i) Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan, (ii) Dhanwar, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, (iii) Nagesia, Nagasia, Kisan, and (iii) Sawar, Sawara, Saunra, Saonra.

• Jharkhand:  The Bill seeks to remove the Bhogta community from the list of SCs in Jharkhand, and include it in the list of STs.  It also clarifies the equivalent names of the Kharwar community in the list of STs: Bhogta, Deshwari, Ganjhu, Dautalbandi, Dwalbandi, Patbandi, Raut, Maajhia, Kairi and Kheri.  It also adds a new community to the list of STs in Jharkhand: Puran.

• Tamil Nadu:  Under the Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950, the Malayali community is a ST for the districts of Dharmapuri, North Arcot, Pudukottai, Salem, South Arcot and Tiruchirapali in Tamil Nadu.  The Bill amends this entry to make the ‘Malayali Gounder’ community a ST throughout Tamil Nadu.  It also adds a community to the STs list: Narikarovan or Kurivikkaran.

• Tripura:  The Bill adds the following sub-tribe of the Kuki tribe to the list of STs in Tripura: Darlong.

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