Centre puts change of norms plan for ST inclusion on hold
NEW DELHI: The Centre has put on hold a plan to change the criteria and procedure for inclusion of communities in the Scheduled Tribes’ list. Such an inclusion makes a community eligible for reservations in jobs and education in government institutions.
The Centre initiated the move to change the criteria and procedure for inclusion in the ST list in 2014 and finalised the proposal after stakeholder consultations in mid-2015. The tribal affairs ministry sent a Cabinet note in August 2015, proposing a complete change in procedure for granting ST status.
However, the government is now treading cautiously on the issue. A senior government official confirmed to ET “the government has put on hold the move to change the criteria and procedure of reservation for STs. The proposal was finalised at a time when Patidar agitation was at its peak in Gujarat.
Now the Jat reservation has hit the state government in Haryana twice. So the Centre is maintaining status quo on all reservation-related issues.”
Although the reservations for OBCs are different from those for STs, the Modi government has decided not to take any decisions related to reservations. A tribal affairs ministry insider told ET that the Cabinet Secretariat has officially kept the note pending as it is yet to receive views of the Bihar and Daman and Diu.
The Centre initiated the move to change the criteria and procedure for inclusion in the ST list in 2014 and finalised the proposal after stakeholder consultations in mid-2015. The tribal affairs ministry sent a Cabinet note in August 2015, proposing a complete change in procedure for granting ST status.
However, the government is now treading cautiously on the issue. A senior government official confirmed to ET “the government has put on hold the move to change the criteria and procedure of reservation for STs. The proposal was finalised at a time when Patidar agitation was at its peak in Gujarat.
Now the Jat reservation has hit the state government in Haryana twice. So the Centre is maintaining status quo on all reservation-related issues.”
Although the reservations for OBCs are different from those for STs, the Modi government has decided not to take any decisions related to reservations. A tribal affairs ministry insider told ET that the Cabinet Secretariat has officially kept the note pending as it is yet to receive views of the Bihar and Daman and Diu.
