April 5, 2022
Pratima Mondal’s speech on Constitution (SCs and STs) Orders (Amendment) Bill
Sir, I am honoured to participate in the discussion on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022. It is nearly 75 years that our country has got its freedom its freedom and almost 70 years that our Constitution came into being. But it is a matter of regret that even after so many years, the policy
on reservation has had little impact on the lives of the Scheduled Casteand the Scheduled Tribe people. These socially deprived people live a precarious life, unable to still fulfil their bare necessities of life. The age-old caste system is the main cause of this social inequality in our country. It has largely contributed in keeping a large portion of the country’s population backward. Caste and creedbased divisions continue to dominate in housing, marriage, employment, and general social interactions in our country. We should therefore make all efforts in every form to fight back so that we all live in a society that encourages only liberty, equality, and fraternity, irrespective of caste. Although our Constitution has provisions for reservation for these socially deprived people, they have benefited from reservationonly in a limited manner. But we need to put in efforts to make these people become a part of the mainstream society. Our attempt should be to help the weak grow strong, not to let the weak become weaker and give them a level-playing field with all members of the society. Hence to echo what Dr. Ambedkarsaidour efforts must be aimed to help ‘break the chains once and forever’. The Bill seeks to remove Bhogta community from the list of Scheduled Castes and include it in the Scheduled Tribes list along with other communities also, as mentioned by the previous speaker. Inclusion of more castes and making laws are not enough. More funds are required to be allocated. Most importantly, implementation is to be looked after. A social activist, an Adivasi rights activist from Jharkhand, Father Stan Swamy had been imprisoned for seven months as an undertrial in the Bhima Koregaon, Elgar Parishadcase. Charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967, he died in custody. His death came four years after he had moved a public interest litigation in the Jharkhand High Court praying for the release of thousands of undertrial prisoners in Jharkhand. Numerous other innocent Adivasis have lost their lives by being mistaken as Maoists. The hon. Minister must look into the matter of the undertrials and their current situation.
Hon. Chairperson, Sir, the tribals have witnessed continued encroachment upon their resources both at individual and community level. Shockingly, outsiders have been able to literally purchase the land of the Adivasis, and in some cases, it is happening without the permission of the Government. This needs to be stopped immediately and the lands that were taken away from them should be handed over to the original landholders. Finally, I would like to mention here that under the leadership of our hon. Chief Minister, the Government of West Bengal has largely been successful in abolishing Maoist activities by implementing several developmental projects. I would like to mention a few developmental projects. Women from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities are receiving Rs. 1000 per month under the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme. It is a symbol of women empowerment. People above the age of 60 years are also receiving Rs. 1000 under ‘Jai Johar’ scheme, which is meant for Scheduled Tribes, and ‘Taposili
Bandhu’ scheme, which is meant for Scheduled Castes. Finally, on behalf of the All India Trinamool Congress, I support this Bill.
