Pratap Simha hopes bill to include 3 tribes under ST may get passed in next LS session

Mysuru: BJP MP from Mysuru Pratap Simha on Friday, December 13 expressed hope that a bill that seeks to include three tribal communities of Karnataka under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list will get passed in the Lok Sabha in February during the Budget session of Parliament.

The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. It seeks to include Parivara and Talawara tribal communities in ST category to ensure they get the reservation and other benefits provided by the government.

Siddi tribes of Belagavi, Dharwad would also be included in the ST category apart from those living in Uttar Kannada districts.

“After much effort, the bill to include Parivara, Talwara and Siddi communities of Karnataka under the ST list has been passed in Rajya Sabha with full support of all parties. We were hoping its smooth passage in Lok Sabha today itself but somehow it did not happen. It will get passed in Lok Sabha in the next session,” Simha told reporters.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is also from Karnataka, has assured that it will be taken up in the next Parliament session, he said.

Although Parivara and Talawara communities are a synonym of ‘Nayaka’ community but were kept out of the ambit of ST category depriving them of all facilities, he added.

The BJP MP also lauded Karnataka chief minister B Y Yediyurappa for his persistent efforts to ensure these communities get listed under the ST category.

Karnataka government had recommended for inclusion of “Parivara’ and Talawara’ communities as synonyms of ‘Nayaka’ appearing at SI No 38 in the list of Scheduled Tribes of the State of Karnataka.

The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State or Union territory is by a notified Order of the President after consultation with the State Government / UT concerned.

Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes can be made only through an amending Act of Parliament.