The Constitution ensures certain protection and benefits for communities deemed as having Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Social and political mobilisation has led to the increase of number of STs 225 in 1960 to 700 today.
As the number of communities demanding ST status expands, it brings the criteria of the recognition and the legitimacy of the process under scrutiny.
What does the constitution say?
The Constitution only states that STs are specified by the President after consultation with the Governor.
It does not define or specify a particular criterion.
According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the criterion includes
Indication of “primitive” traits,
Distinctive culture,
Geographical isolation,
“Shyness of connect” with the community at large &
“Backwardness”
Who are Narikuravars?
Many communities try to prove themselves as meeting the criteria, to avail of the benefits of being accorded ST status.
One such group is Narikuravar.
They are a semi-nomadic tribe, originating in Northern India before migrating south to Tamil Nadu.
They share religious, cultural, and political characteristics with many of the Roma groups in Europe.
Traditionally hunters, they were mostly providing security for kings.
However, once invaders took over they became nomadic and retreated into forests, where they preserved their traditions and freedoms.
When hunting became illegal, they have lived at the margins of the society in dire poverty, making and selling small ornaments.
What is their present socio-economic status?
The community struggles with high levels of illiteracy, multiple health challenges, and unemployment.
Currently, there are about 8,500 Narikuravar families in Tamil Nadu i.e less than 1% of their population.
The government classifies them as a Most Backward Class community.
Classifying Narikuravars as OBCs leads to the assumption that they have a higher chance of being above the poverty line than communities recognised as STs.
e.g In 2005, the percentage of STs below the poverty line in rural Tamil Nadu was 32% but that of rural OBCs was only 19%.
Due to this classification, they have been competing for access to government benefits with nineteen other larger communities with higher socio-economic status.
Do they satisfy the criteria?
Their nomadism across rural and urban areas is against the criteria of “geographical isolation”.
Narikuravar sell their products to the community at large. So they might not display ‘shyness of connect’.
But since these criteria are not explicit, it is difficult for the community to formulate clear political demands.
Their efforts since 2013, on grassroots political mobilisation and hunger strikes have increased awareness of the poor state of the community.
It has led to efforts by the Centre to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order of 1950 to include the Narikuravar, Kurivikarran, and Malayelee Gounder among the STs.
The bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2016 and await passage.
What does it signify?
The betterment of obviously disadvantaged groups like Narikuravar rests on discretionary political acts.
This is because there is no well-developed, transparent criterion and a clear definition of what makes groups eligible for ST status.
Such criteria with specific economic and social data should be developed.
It can help compare communities requesting ST status with other STs and to the Indian population at large
By this greater transparency and confidence in the process can be ensured.
