NCST Survey on Tribal Displacement

• 10 Feb 2025

Why in News? 

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has directed the governments of Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to conduct surveys to identify the exact number of tribal people displaced from Chhattisgarh due to Maoist violence and now living in difficult conditions in neighboring states.

Key Points

• Identification of Displaced Tribal People: 
  • The panel emphasized the need to determine the exact number and locations of displaced tribal people in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra to plan the next course of action effectively. 
• Coordination for Survey and Data Compilation: 
  • The NCST directed the Chhattisgarh government to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the governments of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra for conducting the surveys.  
  • After collecting data from these states, the Chhattisgarh government must compile a consolidated report and submit it to the NCST for further action. 
• Petition Highlighting the Issue: 
  • The commission received a petition in March 2022, stating that members of the Gottikoya community, who fled Chhattisgarh in 2005 due to violence between Maoist guerrillas and Indian security forces, are facing severe hardships in their new locations. 
• Estimated Number of Displaced Tribals: 
  • Tribal rights activists estimate that around 50,000 tribals were displaced from Chhattisgarh due to left-wing extremism.  
  • They are currently residing in 248 settlements in the forests of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 
• Land Reclamation and Displacement Concerns: 
  • Reports indicate that the Telangana government has reclaimed land from internally displaced people (IDPs) in at least 75 settlements, endangering their livelihoods and making them more vulnerable.  
  • The commission, citing the petition, noted allegations that forest department officials demolished IDPs’ homes and destroyed their crops. 

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

• About:  
  • NCST was set up in 2004 by amending Article 338 and by inserting a new article 338A in the Constitution through the 89th Constitution Amendment Act, 2003. Hence, it is a constitutional body. 
  • By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely: 
    • the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) 
• Objective:  
  • Article 338A inter-alia gives powers to the NCST to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes (STs) under the Constitution or under any other law for time being in force or under any other order to the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards. 
• Composition:  
  • It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members who are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. 
  • At least one member should be a woman. 
  • The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the other Members hold office for a term of 3 years. 
    • The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, the Vice Chairperson has the rank of a Minister of State and other Members have the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. 
  • The members are not eligible for appointments for more than two terms. 

Gotti Koya Tribe 

• About: 
  • Gotti Koya are one of the few multi-racial and multi-lingual tribal communities in India. 
  • They live in the forests, plains, and valleys on both sides of the Godavari River, in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. 
  • They are said to have migrated to central India from their original home in Bastar, northern India. 
• Language: 
  • The Koya language, also called Koyi, is a Dravidian language. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu. 
  • Most Koyas speak either Gondi or Telugu, in addition to Koyi. 
• Occupation: 
  • Traditionally, they were pastoralists and shifting cultivators, but now-a-days, they have taken to settled cultivation supplemented by animal husbandry and seasonal forest collections. 
  • They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, and other millets. 
• Society and Culture: 
  • All Gotti Koya belong to one of five subdivisions called gotrams. Every Gotti Koya is born into a clan, and he cannot leave it. 
  • They have a patrilineal and patrilocal family. The family is called "Kutum". The nuclear family is the predominant type. 
  • Monogamy is prevalent among the Koyas. 
  • They practice their own ethnic religion, but also worship a number of Hindu gods and goddesses. 
  • Many Gotti Koya deities are female, the most important being the "mother earth." 
  • They maintain community funds and grain banks at the village level to help the needy families and provide food security. 
  • They either bury or cremate the dead. They erect menhirs in memory of the dead. 
  • Their main festivals are Vijji Pandum (seeds charming festival) and KondalaKolupu (festival to appease Hill deities). 
  • They perform a robust, colourful dance called Permakok (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriage ceremonies.