Training Programme on Issuance of ST Verification for Mandal Revenue Officers in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Andhra Pradesh is one of the most tribal populated state in India. There are 33 entries in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Andhra Pradesh according to the Article 342 (1) of the Indian Constitution. The list includes Bagatha, Chenchu, Yanadi, Valmiki, Naikpods, Savara, Jatapu, Konda Dora, Gadaba etc. The book Training Programme on Issuance of ST Verification for MROs is a reading material which specifies the norms to issue Scheduled Tribe community certificate to a tribal individual. It also examines various issues regarding definitions of tribe, similarity in the names of certain Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes and non-tribal groups, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976, and unfair inclusions and genuine exclusions in the list. Even though there are 33 entries in the list, there are only 28 tribal groups in effect others being repetitions or synonyms of other listed tribes. The major tribal groups of Andhra Pradesh are Bagatha, Chenchu, Valmiki, Naikpod and Yanadi. The remaining tribal groups are common to the neighboring states. There is another category of bogus claimants of Scheduled Tribes who taking the advantage of their identical occupation with one of the scheduled tribes. For instance, Medara who is a caste of bamboo workers and basket makers, while Yerukulas are also engaged in the basket making. In Rayalaseema region, the Medaras are obtaining Scheduled Tribe certificates maquerading as Yerukalas taking advantage of the similarity in occupation. The book also empowers MROs about A.P. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backwards Classes (Regulation of issue of Community Certificate) Act, 1993 which provide standard operating procedure for the issue of community certificates, cancellation of bogus certificates and provide punishment or claiming fraudulently ST certificates. In the entire country, A.P. Government has pioneered in enactment of separate legislation to grapple with the problem of ales community certificates. Further, the comparative analysis of Scheduled Tribes vis-a-vis non-tribal groups of similar nomenclature has been given to facilitate proper differentiation between the Scheduled Tribes and non-tribal groups with similar nomenclature, so that wrong claimants weeded out.