Context:

• Despite persistent demands by Adivasi organisations, 59% of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) remain outside the purview of Article 244.

What are the Scheduled Areas?

• India’s 705 ST communities, making up 8.6% of the country’s population live in 26 States and 6 Union Territories.

• Article 244: Administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas. 
  • Articles 244(1) provides for the application of Fifth Schedule provisions to Schedule Areas notified in any State other than the Sixth Schedule states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. 
  • At present there are 10 States in the 5th Schedule namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.
• Tribal Areas: Generally refer to regions predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. These areas may or may not be officially designated as Schedule Areas.

What is the administration of Scheduled areas in India?

• The President of India notifies India’s Scheduled Areas. 
• States with Schedule Areas need to constitute a Tribal Advisory Council with up to 20 ST members. 
  • They will advise the Governor on matters referred to them regarding ST welfare. 
• The Governor can also make regulations for a Schedule Area and regulate the allotment of land to STs and money-lending to STs.
  • The Governor will then submit a report every year to the President regarding the administration of Schedule Areas.

Demand for Notifying Schedule Areas

• Around 59% of India’s STs remain outside the purview of Article 244 leading to persistent demands by Adivasi organisations for notifying these places as scheduled areas.
  • For instance, In 2015, Kerala proposed to notify five gram panchayats and two wards in five districts. It awaits the Indian government’s approval.
• In 1995, the Bhuria Committee, constituted to recommend provisions for the extension of panchayat raj to Schedule Areas, recommended including these villages, but this is yet to be done. 

News Source: The Hindu