IT News
Delhi, Jan, 3,
The Union Cabinet approved the Home Ministry’s proposal to replace the generic term ‘any Naga tribes’ with the specific names of the tribes that would qualify for recognition as Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.
The decision taken ahead of the 2019 general election, on a proposal from the Arunachal Pradesh government, may impact on the on-going peace talks between National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) and Government of India.
The NSCN-IM and other Naga groups have been campaigning for a Greater Nagalim or a contiguous land for the Nagas across Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Myanmar.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In October last year, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had cleared the proposal, which was examined and recommended by the Tribal Affairs Ministry and the Registrar-General of India.
“As for replacing ‘any Naga tribes’ with the specific names of Tutsa, Wancho, Nocte and Tangsa, it has been cleared by the Tribal Affairs Ministry first. The Cabinet has endorsed it,” said a senior official.
Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2018, for revision of the list of Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, was cleared, and the names of some communities would be deleted.
An official statement said ‘Khampti’ would be replaced with ‘Tai Khamti’ in the list. ‘Abor’ would be deleted and ‘Mishmi-Kaman, Idu and Taraon’ would be included. ‘Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolong’ would be included in lieu of ‘Momba’ in the ST list of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Home Ministry will have to move the Bill in Parliament before the winter session concludes on January 8 for the changes to come into effect.