Jharkhand

• 13 Jun 2024

Land Rights of Tribals and SC/ST Act

Why in News?

Recently, Jharkhand’s Chief Minister directed officials to safeguard the land rights of tribals and take quick action to ensure their possession over plots where court rulings are in their favor following disputes.

• Emphasising that Scheduled Tribes (STs) have been the most marginalised and deprived population, it was also directed to officials that all cases registered under  the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 be disposed of on a priority basis.

Key Points

• The Constitution of India does not endeavor to define the term 'tribe', however, the term Scheduled Tribe' was inserted in the Constitution through Article 342 (i).
  • It lays down that 'the President may, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within the tribes or tribal communities or parts which shall, for the purposes of this Constitution, be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes.
  • The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the setting up a Tribes’ Advisory Council in each of the States having Scheduled Areas.
• One of the most significant issues faced by tribal communities is the lack of secure land rights. Many tribes live in forest areas or remote regions where their traditional rights to land and resources are often not recognized, leading to displacement and land alienation.
• SC/ST Act 1989 is an Act of Parliament enacted to prohibit discrimination against SC & ST communities members and prevent atrocities against them. 
  • The Act was passed in Parliament of India on 11th September 1989 and notified on 30 January 1990.

Abua Awas Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand Chief Minister directed for speeding up the process of construction of 2 lakh houses in the first phase of the 'Abua Awas' scheme, and emphasized that action will be taken against officers who commit irregularities and negligence in this scheme.

Key Points

• The scheme was launched by former CM Hemant Soren in November 2023 to provide houses to those who were deprived of benefits under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY).
• Under Abua Awas' scheme (launched in 2023), the state government will provide housing to the needy people from its own fund by spending more than Rs 15,000 crore in the next two years.
  • Three room houses will be provided to the poor, deprived, labourers, farmers, tribals, backward and Dalits.   

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

• It is a government initiative that aims to provide affordable houses to the urban poor keeping a target of building 2 crore (20 million) houses by 2024.
• The two basic components of the scheme are:
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Urban (PMAY-U) looks into the housing requisites of poor urban people. The urban poor has been categorised into three sectors, which depend upon the annual household income:
  • (i) Economically Weaker Section (EWS), (ii) Low-income Group (LIG) (iii) Middle Income Group (MIG). Additionally, the slum dwellers within the urban population can also apply to the scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Rural (PMAY-R) has been brought in to help economically weak families living in rural India become property owners. The residences in such rural areas will have all the required basic facilities such as electricity, clean water, a well-developed sewage system, a sanitation facility, etc.