The central focus should be on treating them as we would treat other Indian citizens. And we can only do that if we provide them equal opportunities to demonstrate their worth. This, by default, puts a question on the reliability of the administration. This delay may have led to exploitation, which has existed since pre-independence.

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The discussion focused on the functions of TSP, STC, and the implementation of the PVTG mission. Similarly, the Phom People’s Council (PPC) also held an emergency meeting on 21 January at the Phom People’s Council Hall and resolved to stand by the 26 August 2022 ENPO Resolution. The Tribal Council of Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar has, however, objected to the diversion of certain areas currently reserved for tribals. To this, Congress MP, Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the chairman of the Rajya Sabha had said on a previous occasion that the House is entitled to discuss mines game play everything except article 121 of Constitution which pertains to conduct of a judge of SC or high court. The project can lead to environmental and humanitarian disaster,” he said.

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A proposal was made to conduct a special meeting to deliberate on the provision of community forest rights to tribals under the Recognition of Forest Rights (RoFR) Act and the distribution of pattas for podu lands across the state. Meanwhile, Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh proposed the formation of a Scheduled Tribes (ST) Commission to address the challenges faced by tribal communities in Telangana. He also raised concern over the recent Supreme Court verdict striking down GO No. 3, which provided 100 per cent reservation for local tribes in government jobs within agency areas. He stressed the need for alternative measures to safeguard tribal rights.

After consulting with the Tribal Advisory Council, the state Governor is independent of everything and may make choices for the tribal people. The Tribal Advisory Council has a maximum of 20 members, including the chairperson, who is the state’s Chief Minister, and three-quarters of the seats are reserved for scheduled tribal members of the Legislative Assembly. The Committee meets twice a year to review the implementation of the provisions of the Act and Rules made thereunder as also such other functions as the State Govt.

These islands also have customary caretakers to ensure sustainable use of resources. Numerous judgments over the years have concluded that the purpose of scheduled areas is to safeguard tribal autonomy, peace, and culture and to undertake social, economic, and political justice. However, it should be acknowledged that there still exists a section of the population in the tribal community that is at times unable to make good use of benefits such as development processes and projects that the government undertakes. These provisions (Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Indian Constitution) come as a solution for such issues of development. More broadly, the project entails the diversion of about 130 sq kms of rainforests on the island. To ‘compensate’ for such loss of rich biodiversity, the government has proposed the creation of three new wildlife sanctuaries as part of the environment clearance process for the project.

• These proposals aim to safeguard the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of Assamese people.
• The first meeting was held on June 24, 1978, and there have been 44 sessions since then.
• At the same time, the government is also responsible for telling them their primary identity is Indian.
• Instead, two months later in October, they issued official notifications to create the three wildlife sanctuaries.

These are specific villages where mainly the Shompen and Nicobarese population reside including Chingneh, Kirasis and Kurchinom in Galathea Bay; In Haeng Loi and Pulo Baha in Pemmaya Bay and Kokeon; Bui-jayae and Pulo Pakka in the Western flank of Nanjappa Bay. The letter also states that there are Shompen bands who forage in the forests adjoining the Vijaynagar and Laxminagar villages and mentions specific locations along the East West and North South roads of the Island. But the local tribal council has objected to the creation of the sanctuaries saying they were never consulted in the first place.

“I saw the order stating intention to create sanctuaries on the notice board when I went to the office of the assistant commissioner of Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar. We were not given a copy of the order,” Barnabas Manju, chairman of the tribal council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar Islands, told The News Minute. Two months later in July, the A&N administration issued an order stating it has not received any objection to the creation of the three sanctuaries. The order concludes that since no objections were received, “no person has any rights within the limits of the three sanctuaries” and also that there will be “restrictions” on entering the islands. The Tribal Advisory Council was a significant step forward in tribal people’s lives.