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"That the Bill further to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, be taken into consideration."

 MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, I call Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to speak.

*SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): Mr Chairman Sir, on behalf of my party I thank the Hon. Minister for bringing two amendments in the two important Bills viz. the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2002 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) 2002. The decision for amendment should have been taken two years back. Though belated I have found that hon. Minister Dr Jatia after going through our demand has always been very prompt to take necessary action. After he took over the responsibility he brought these two bills with necessary amendments in the last session itself. Today it is going to be passed. Our hon. Minister has mentioned two objectives in these two bills. One is about the inclusion of displaced persons from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh affected due to Sardar Sarovar project on the river Narmada in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe list of Gujarat as they have settled or may settle in Gujarat. I have no objection in these amendments. I would like to speak something on the other Bill. I am very happy that Chain community has been included in the Scheduled Caste list. I would request the Minister for a small amendment. This Chain community stays in Malda Murshidabad Nadia and you have mentioned South Dinajpur. Sir there is no district as South Dinajpur in West Bengal. It was West Dinajpur. Now it has been divided and are known as North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur. This community stays both in North and South Dinajpur. So instead of South Dinajpur if North and South Dinajpur are written then the aspiration of this community living in both these areas will be fulfilled. This is my first request. Today before the discussion is over you can contact West Bengal Government and get the information that these are North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur in the list and after that the amendment can be done.

The leader of Chain community Shri Kanchan Sarkar of Murshidabad, Member of Parliament our dear leader Shri Adhir Choudhury and I have been agitating for more than two years on this issue. But it is a matter of regret that even after agitating and sending the notes to your Ministry for necessary action, nothing was done. All the time we were getting the stock reply that the matter is pending or under consideration. The State Government of West Bengal has passed the resolution unanimously three years back. Even after submitting the papers to the Ministry two years back, nothing was done. I am grateful to you that after I send the necessary papers to you, you took action and today you have brought the Bill. I again thank you for this. The Chain Mandal community stays in large number in Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia North and South Dinajpur. They are farmers by profession and have remained a deprived community for many years. These people have been demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Caste list for a long time. Today after the bill is passed here and then in Rajya Sabha and after the Presidential Order, this community will have a new direction, new lease of life. But I would like to make another request to the Hon. Minister. There is another community Chasad who also stays in these areas along with Chain community. They are also Mandals. Their name has not been included separately in the Bill. I request you to get information about this Chasad community of these three districts from West Bengal Government through your Ministry, you will find that this community also deserves to be included in the Scheduled Caste list.

Every State has got a different and separate List of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Now, we all know, actually some of us know how a caste can be included in the List of Scheduled Castes. That issue was decided as back as 1931 when the first Census under one British Commissioner named Sarte was done, and that was the first caste-based Census in our country. According to that Census, social disability arising out of untouchability was the main criterion for considering a particular caste as Scheduled Caste. A list was prepared. As far as the Scheduled Tribe is concerned, it has nothing to do with untouchability. But if he is originallly an inhabitant of a particular region – it may be a forest, a jungle, a tribal area, may be a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian –only then he is considered as Scheduled Tribe and reservation is given according to the population of that tribe or that caste.

There is another anomaly here. This particular sub-caste was already included in the list of Other Backward Classes of the State. They are already there in the list of Other Backward Classes. Can a caste remain in two lists, OBC and also in Scheduled Castes? According to my information, the Government of Gujarat has given an assurance. I am in constant touch with the Minister of Social Justice in Gujarat. The Government of Gujarat has given an assurance that if the area restriction is re-imposed, the entire Mochi sub-caste will be included in the list of Other Backward Classes. They can definitely be included in the list of OBCs because of their economic backwardness; but socially they are far ahead. So, at this juncture I am requesting you while supporting this Bill. It is not a condition. As pointed out by the former Prime Minister, hon. Shri H.D. Deve Gowda, all such requests are most genuine requests and are of inclusion. There are a few cases of deletion. In fact, in the Scheduled Castes, there cannot be a case of deletion. There are cases for inclusion. If they are genuine, if the persons are untouchable and if they are not allowed to go to temples and if the barber does not cut their hair etc., then their cases are to be considered. You know what is the criteria. You go to any Indian village and you can see who is a member of the Scheduled Castes and who is not.