Maharashtra govt to establish Scheduled Tribes commission; review tribal population status

Eknath Shinde/ File Photo

On Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the establishment of a Scheduled Tribes Commission, modelled after the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The government also intends to include additional villages with substantial tribal populations in government schemes, which were previously excluded, stated a PTI report.

Chairing a meeting with officials and concerned ministers, CM Shinde called for a comprehensive review of the present status of tribal populations across the state. Following this review, new regions, including villages, will be designated as "aspirational" districts. This move is expected to increase the number of villages with significant tribal populations compared to the existing count, the report further stated.

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During the meeting, the CM gave his approval to create a dedicated commission for scheduled tribes, which will be a statutory body. The Deputy CMs, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, along with relevant ministers and officials from the Tribal Development Department, were present during the discussions.

In addition, CM Shinde directed officials not to redirect funds allocated for tribal development until December, even if they remain unutilized. He urged officials to disburse these funds to the relevant departments before December. Furthermore, the quality of infrastructure being developed for tribal communities, such as schools, roads, and student hostels, should meet high standards.

Currently, Maharashtra recognizes 13 districts with significant tribal populations. Out of these, 23 tehsils or blocks have a dominant tribal presence, and 36 others have a sizable tribal population. This initiative will evaluate the current tribal population status and potentially identify more "aspirational" districts, increasing the number of villages with substantial tribal populations, stated the report.

An official noted that such a comprehensive review has not taken place in the last 38 years, despite calls for such an assessment. CM Shinde's new directives are expected to provide the administration with a better understanding of the tribal community's status in the state, the report further read.

Eknath Shinde leads a coalition government in Maharashtra, comprised of the Shiv Sena, BJP, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction. The next assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for October next year.