Current Affairs Date: 08 July 2024

⇒ The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in respect of Odisha were passed by the Lok Sabha on 8th February 2024, to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Odisha. The bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on 6th February 2024.

• • The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 received the assent of the President of India on February 15, 2024. This Act may be called the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposed to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in relation to Odisha.

The following changes/inclusions will be made in list of Scheduled Tribes of Odisha:

I. Four Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), which are proposed to be included in their own names in the list of STs:

• • • Pauri Bhuyan, Paudi Bhuyan as synonyms of Bhuiya, Bhuyan at Sl. No. 6;
    • Chuktia Bhunjia as synonym of Bhunjia at Sl. No. 9;
    • Bondo as sub-entry under STs “Bondo Poraja, Bonda Paroja. Banda Paroja” at Sl. No.13; and,
    • Mankidia as synonym of ST “Mankirdia” at Sl.No. 47.

II. Omitting of two names from the list of Scheduled Castes

• • • Tamadia at Sl. No. 87; and,
    • Tamudia at Sl. No. 88.

III. Inclusion of Communities names of which are phonetic variations or synonyms of pre-existing entries in the list of STs of the State:

• • • Tamadia*, Tamaria, Tamudia*, Tamodia Bhumij, Tamudia Bhumij, Tamundia Bhumij, Tamulia Bhumij, Tamadia Bhumij as a sub-entry under main entry “Bhumij” at Sl. No. 8. (*These communities are proposed to be omitted from the Scheduled Caste list.)
    • Banda Paraja, Bonda Paraja, Bonda, Banda as sub-entry under STs “Bondo Poraja, Bonda Paroja. Banda Paroja” at Sl. No.13.
    • Durua, Dhurua, Dhurava as subsect of Dharua, Dhuruba, Dhurva at Sl. No. 17.
    • Kaur, Kunwar, Kaonr, Kuanr, Konwar, Kuanar, Kaanr, Koanr, Kuanwar as synonym of ST “Kawar, Kanwar” at Sl. No. 28.
    • Inclusion of Kui (Kandha) as a new sub-entry under the ST Khond and Kandha Kumbhar community as a subset of Kandha Scheduled Tribe at Sl. No.
    • Uram, Oram, Uraon, Dhangara and Oraon Mudi communities as synonyms of Oraon listed at Sl. No. 53.
    • Bareng Jhodia Paroja, Penga Paroja, Pengu Paroja, Porja, Selia Paroja, as synonym of ST Paroja at Sl. No. 55.
    • Rajual, Rajuad as synonym of ST Rajuar at Sl. No. 57.
    • Saara as synonym under Saora, Savar, Saura, Sahara, etc at Sl. No. 59.

IV. Inclusion of communities through New Entry:

• • • Muka Dora, Mooka Dora, Nuka Dora, Nooka Dora with area restriction (in undivided Koraput District i.e., Koraput, Nowrangapur, Rayagada & Malkangiri districts) at Sl. No. 63.
    • Konda Reddy, Konda Reddi at Sl. No. 64.