March 28, 2022
Pratima Mondal’s speech on The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Madam, I am not a Doctor. I am only Pratima Mondal. Thank you, Madam. I rise to speak on the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022. The Bill seeks to include Darlong community as a sub tribe of Kuki tribe of Tripura into the Scheduled Tribes list. But the problems lying at the core cannot be solved just by including more categories into the list. The Government has to make progressive changes in order to ensure development of Scheduled Tribe population. I say this because the Scheduled Tribes fall under the category
of India’s poorest people with five out of 10 people falling into the lowest wealth bracket. This poverty-stricken state leads to all sorts of problems that they face be it lack of education, dependency on forest produces or resorting to Maoist activities. Here, I would like to take the opportunity to mention that under the Leadership of our hon. Chief Minister, Mamata Bandhopadhyay, the Government of West Bengal has been largely successful in abolishing Maoist
activities by bringing about development in the districts. Not only this, districts with highest population of Scheduled Tribes like Bankura, Birbhum, Jhargram, Purulia and others have reflected a significant rise in education and employment levels. Further, women from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities are receiving Rs. 1,000 per month under Laxmi Bhandar scheme as a symbol of women empowerment, and people above the age of 60 years are also receiving Rs. 1,000 per month under Jai Johar scheme for Scheduled Tribes and Taposili Bandhu for Scheduled Castes. This has to be ensured in all the areas dominated by Scheduled Tribes and also Scheduled Castes across the nation. The unending miseries related to land for tribal population began with the increasing pressure on extracting minerals from these areas. This led to displacement of people from their own homeland. The growth led to springing up of industries by depleting forests, thus worsening the scenario. Currently, the status of our tribal men and women — affected by rampant industrialisation — is not even being studied. This clearly depicts the lack of concern from the Government’s end. The railway connectivity project in the North Westareas is being opposed
by numerous groups of tribal people as they are fearful of being uprooted from their cultural habitats and with no secure means of livelihood. Why should any person be fearful in a democratic county? Just ponder upon that question. I would like to put forth my views that it is because the Government is taking steps which instead of helping people is affecting them negatively. I would like to request the hon. Minister that before using or getting the
lands of tribals, permission from panchayats must be made compulsory and the Government should take necessary steps in this regard. Madam, it is because of economic backwardness and insecure livelihood, the tribals face health problems, such as prevalence of diseases, like malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, diarrhoea and jaundice, problems associated with malnutrition like iron deficiency and anaemia, high infant mortality rates, low levels of life expectancy, etc. The Government must allot more funds and set up at least one major hospital having best facilities in all the remote areas inhabited by the tribes. The degradation of the natural environment, particularly through the
destruction of forests and a rapidly shrinking resource base, has had its impact on the status of women. The opening of the tribal belts to mining, industries and commercialisation has exposed tribal men and women to the ruthless operations of the market economy, giving rise to consumerism. This must be combatted by promoting women self-help groups,MSMEs, which does not impact environment negatively. The most critical and delicate problem faced by the tribal population of the nation is related to their identity. Increasingly the traditional institutions and laws
of tribals are coming into conflict with modern institutions which create apprehensions among the tribals about preserving their identity. Extinction of tribal dialects and languages is another cause of concern as it indicates an
erosion of tribal identity in certain areas. So, the Government must go beyond the listed languages and promote
the protection of hundreds of languages spoken in the country. But along with that I seriously believe that English must be taught to not only Scheduled Tribes people but every citizen or at least youth and children of India. The language is very critical to enhance their pool of knowledge and required for every Government examination as well.
Madam, I would like to conclude by saying that the object of the Bill is very positive but the Government cannot shrug off its duty by doing just this. It has to address the real problem and bring about positive changes. The Government must bring a comprehensive Bill to include more tribes to the list after good research. I, on behalf of my Party, All India Trinamool Congress, support the Bill.
