A significant move has been made by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) more than two decades after it was first entrusted with crucial responsibilities aimed at safeguarding the rights of Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities across the nation. For the very first time, the commission has now established a dedicated special committee, supported by three sub-committees, to delve into the practical implementation of these long-pending duties. This development was shared by NCST Member Nirupam Chakma on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Back in August 2005, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs officially expanded the NCST’s mandate by issuing a notification that outlined eight specific additional responsibilities. These included crucial tasks such as proposing strategies to secure the ownership of minor forest produce, ensuring rights to water and mineral resources for tribal populations, actively working to prevent the alienation of tribal lands, and ensuring the complete and effective implementation of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act of 1996, commonly known as PESA.
Furthermore, the NCST was directed to explore ‘viable livelihood strategies’ for tribal communities, evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for those displaced by development initiatives, enhance the involvement of tribal communities in forest protection and conservation, and identify methods to significantly reduce, and eventually eliminate, the practice of shifting cultivation among these groups.
Initially, the NCST acknowledged that it felt ‘severely handicapped’ in undertaking these studies and duties due to insufficient staff and funding. Fast forward to this week, the commission has announced its commitment to developing a comprehensive report detailing precisely how these additional functions can be successfully carried out. An NCST member indicated that this long-awaited report is slated for finalization by the close of the current financial year.
According to officials, the newly formed special internal committee comprises 11 members. To efficiently tackle the extensive list of eight additional functions, these responsibilities have been strategically divided and allocated among three distinct sub-committees. One such sub-committee, led by member Jatothu Hussain, will focus specifically on matters concerning livelihood strategies and the ownership rights of tribal communities over minor forest produce, as well as mineral and water resources.
Another sub-committee, under the leadership of member Asha Lakra, is tasked with investigating concerns related to land alienation and assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs designed for tribal populations displaced by various development projects. Meanwhile, the third sub-committee, headed by member Nirupam Chakma, will dedicate its efforts to ensuring the full implementation of the PESA Act, bolstering the involvement of tribal communities in forest conservation, and strategizing the eradication of shifting cultivation practices.
Notably, Ms. Lakra, who previously served as the Mayor of Ranchi, had last year raised serious allegations concerning ‘illegal Bangladeshis’ reportedly encroaching upon and seizing tribal lands from ST communities in Jharkhand, a claim made just before the State elections. She had also compiled a detailed report on this sensitive issue, which was subsequently submitted to Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mr. Chakma informed that the commission intends to conduct thorough field visits as part of its preparations for this extensive undertaking. He also mentioned that should the panel determine it lacks the internal resources to complete the report, it reserves the option to enlist external consultants for assistance.
Although the inaugural annual report of the independent NCST in 2005 explicitly highlighted its constraints in addressing these newly assigned functions, a subsequent review of publicly available reports reveals a striking absence of any further mention regarding these duties or the actions taken to fulfill them in the years that followed.