Bihar Government To Constitute Scheduled Tribes Commission

The government of Bihar has announced to constitute a commission for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes of the state. According to minister for backward class welfare, Jitan Ram Manjhi, the state government took the decision to set up a Scheduled Tribes Commission so that it can help in formulation of policies for the upliftment of the backward class people.

Manjhi informed that in order to properly gauge the problems of the tribal community, a census of tribal population in the state will be conducted very shortly. He further informed that state government will implement Right to Forest Act, 2006, in 14 districts of Bihar having substantial tribal population. The proposed Scheduled Tribes Commission will be constituted on the lines of the Maha Dalits commission.

Established in 2007, the Maha Dalits commission aims at the welfare of certain Dalit sub-castes, which are socially and educationally more backward than others. It was Bihar government which first constituted a commission and studied the status of the most deprived and marginalised section of the society.

The Maha Dalits commission presented its interim report to government, a few months back. The report of the commission revealed the dismal condition of the Dalit sub-castes. According to the report, it is very unfortunate that no high school teachers or senior officials have come up from this section of the society despite the fact that there are reservations for them in government jobs.