Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The concept of Scheduled Tribe (ST) in India refers to indigenous communities recognized under Article 342 of the Constitution, granted special protection and affirmative action for their socio-economic upliftment. While the Constitution empowers the President to notify these groups, it does not explicitly define "tribe." Historically, the identification of STs has relied on criteria established by administrative committees, most notably the Lokur Committee in 1965. These criteria aimed to capture the distinctiveness of tribal communities but have faced significant criticism for their static, often colonial, and reductionist approach, leading to ongoing debates about their effectiveness and fairness in contemporary India.
Concept of Scheduled Tribe (ST) in India
The term 'Scheduled Tribe' first appeared in the Constitution of India. Article 366 (25) defines Scheduled Tribes as "such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution." Article 342 outlines the procedure for their specification: the President, after consulting with the Governor of a state, may by public notification specify the tribes or tribal communities to be deemed Scheduled Tribes in relation to that state or union territory. These lists can only be modified subsequently by an Act of Parliament.
The constitutional recognition of Scheduled Tribes is rooted in the acknowledgment of their historical marginalization, geographical isolation, distinct cultural identities, and socio-economic backwardness. This recognition aims to provide them with various safeguards, including reservations in education, employment, and legislative bodies, as well as specific provisions for their development and the protection of their land and culture, primarily through the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution.
Administrator's Criteria for ST Identification: The Lokur Committee Recommendations
Since the Constitution did not lay down specific criteria for identifying Scheduled Tribes, the Government of India set up the Advisory Committee on the Revision of Lists of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes, also known as the Lokur Committee, in 1965. The criteria recommended by this committee have largely guided the process of inclusion in the ST list, and are still followed by the Office of the Registrar-General of India (RGI).
The Lokur Committee's five criteria are:
- Primitive traits: Referring to characteristics often associated with pre-agricultural or pre-industrial societies.
- Distinctive culture: Encompassing unique customs, traditions, language/dialect, and ways of life.
- Geographical isolation: Indicating habitation in remote or inaccessible areas, away from mainstream populations.
- Shyness of contact with the community at large: Suggesting a reluctance to interact with or integrate into non-tribal societies.
- Backwardness: Measured in terms of socio-economic and educational indicators compared to the general population.
Limitations of Administrator's Criteria
While intended to identify genuine tribal communities requiring protection, the administrative criteria, particularly those of the Lokur Committee, suffer from several significant limitations, making them increasingly obsolete and problematic in contemporary India:
1. Outdated and Pejorative Language
- "Primitive traits": This term is often criticized as colonial, condescending, and anachronistic. It perpetuates a stereotypical view of tribal communities as static and unchanging, ignoring their dynamic nature and adaptability. Anthropologists like Verrier Elwin highlighted the dangers of stereotyping.
2. Ambiguity and Subjectivity
- "Distinctive culture": Culture is fluid and constantly evolving through interaction. Defining a "distinctive culture" can be subjective and difficult, often leading to arbitrary decisions. Many tribal cultures have undergone changes due to modernization and interaction.
- "Backwardness": While socio-economic backwardness is a valid concern, reducing tribal identity solely to poverty overlooks their rich traditional knowledge systems, sustainable practices, and unique social structures. It can stigmatize communities rather than empower them.
3. Irrelevance in Modern Context
- "Geographical isolation" and "Shyness of contact": With advancements in infrastructure, communication, and economic integration, true geographical isolation and complete shyness of contact are increasingly rare. Many tribal groups have significant interaction with non-tribal populations for economic, educational, and other reasons. These criteria fail to acknowledge the process of acculturation and integration. A Task Force in 2014 noted that "how can any community remain in isolation" with infrastructure development.
4. Exclusion of Deserving Communities and Inclusion of Non-Deserving Ones
- The rigid application of these criteria can lead to the exclusion of genuinely marginalized communities that may have lost some "primitive traits" or "geographical isolation" due to forced displacement, development projects, or historical assimilation.
- Conversely, politically influential groups that do not meet the original spirit of tribal identity might lobby for ST status, diluting the benefits meant for the most vulnerable.
5. Lack of Scientific Basis and Ethnographic Studies
- The Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), which provides crucial input, often relies on census records which themselves have had inconsistent classifications of tribes over time (e.g., "Tribal religion," "Hill and forest tribes," "Primitive tribes"). The RGI has been criticized for lacking expertise in anthropology and sociology and for not having a robust databank based on ethnographic studies.
6. Static Nature vs. Dynamic Identities
- Identity, especially tribal identity, is not static. Communities evolve, adapt, and their characteristics change over time. The Lokur Committee criteria present a static, almost fossilized, view of tribal identity, failing to account for these dynamic processes.
7. Procedural Hurdles and Delays
- The existing process for inclusion/exclusion is cumbersome, requiring recommendations from state governments, concurrence from the RGI and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), and parliamentary approval. A single objection can stall the process, leading to significant delays in addressing genuine claims.
The limitations of these administrative criteria have led to ongoing demands for their revision. The Hrushikesh Panda Committee (2014) highlighted the need for new, more flexible criteria that consider socio-economic, educational backwardness, historical geographical isolation (which may not exist today), distinct language/dialect, core culture, and endogamy/marital patterns holistically.
| Lokur Committee Criteria (1965) | Criticism and Limitations |
|---|---|
| Primitive traits | Outdated, pejorative, and often demeaning; ignores dynamism of cultures. |
| Distinctive culture | Subjective; cultures are fluid and influenced by external contacts. |
| Geographical isolation | Less relevant today due to infrastructure and connectivity. |
| Shyness of contact | Impractical; most tribes interact with mainstream society for various reasons. |
| Backwardness | Reduces identity to economic status; overlooks cultural richness. |
Conclusion
The concept of Scheduled Tribe in India, while vital for constitutional safeguards and affirmative action, is significantly impacted by the limitations of its identification criteria. The administrative norms, largely based on the Lokur Committee recommendations, are increasingly seen as archaic, subjective, and inadequate in capturing the complex, dynamic realities of India's diverse tribal communities. A critical re-evaluation and adoption of more holistic, contemporary, and anthropologically informed criteria, as suggested by various committees, are essential to ensure that the benefits of scheduling reach the truly deserving, prevent identity erosion, and promote equitable development while preserving cultural distinctiveness.
Answer Length
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