Munda pleads for Data Bank of Tribal lands in country

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on February 19, 2020, inaugurated the function to celebrate 16^th Foundation of Day of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) organised by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) here. He delivered keynote address on the occasion.

Renuka Singh Saruta, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, was the Guest of Honour. Nand Kumar Sai, Chairman, NCST, and members of the Commission and many dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Arjun Munda presented awards for exemplary service to the  Scheduled Tribes in the country to (i) CPSU – Western Coalfields Ltd. Nagpur ( Rajiv Ranjan Mehra, CMD, received the award) and (ii) Individual ( Ajay Kumar Jaiswal, Secretary, ASHA, Ranchi, received the award).

Munda, delivering keynote address, said that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was set up on February 19, 2004, by amending Article 338 and by inserting a new article 338A  in the Constitution through the Constitution (89^th Amendment Act, 2003 which inter-alia enjoins upon the Commission to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled  Tribes under the Constitution or under any other law in force .

Munda said that the Commission has been constituted with a great purpose to take care of STs in the country. He opined that there should be a Data Bank of Tribal lands in the country and NCST should have an Independent Research Team for proper research work. Also, the Commission should have a proper Data Management System. He assured the full support and cooperation of Ministry of Tribal Affairs in strengthening NCST.

Nand Kumar Sai, Chairman, NCST, in his address dwelt on the many activities and programmes of NCST for the welfare of STs in the country.

Renuka Singh Saruta Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, said that that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 1999 and later on separate National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was created on February 19, 2004. She said that many States have State Commission for STs but many States do not have such Commission for STs. All States should have Commission for STs. She said that the tribal people have contributed a lot in our freedom struggle and nation building.

The Commission comprise a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, and three full time members (including one lady member). The term of office Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Members of NCST is three years from the date of assumption of charge. The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, the Vice Chairperson has the rank of a Minister of State, and other Members have the rank of a Secretary to the Government of  India, according to a PIB release.