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MR. SPEAKER: Motion moved:

"That the Bill further to amend the Constitution of India, be taken into considseration."

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM (NAGALAND): Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the tribal population of this country, I would like to thank you for even suspending the Question Hour today. It is a red letter day for the tribal population of this country.

SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): I propose in the beginning that if the Government agrees, we are prepared to pass these Constitution (Amendment) Bills without any debate and are for smooth passage of both the Bills. Only the Minister can give his comments, but it will be possible if other Parties also agree.

डॉ. रघुवंश प्रसाद सिंह (वैशाली): अध्यक्ष महोदय, यह संविधान संशोधन विधेयक है। आप इस पर ४५-४५ मिनट की चर्चा करवाकर पास करेंगे, हम इससे सहमत नहीं हैं।…( व्यवधान)

अध्यक्ष महोदय : सांगतम जी, आप बोलिए।

...( व्यवधान)

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : Since the Independence of this country, a lot of emphasis has been given to bring about a lot of changes and reforms to uplift the downtrodden people, particularly the Scheduled Castes and the Schedules Tribes. Various Governments in the past -- right from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, to Shrimati Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi -- have tried to bring about a lot of changes in order to uplift the lives of the people, who are living in remote places and hilly areas.

MR. SPEAKER: Please keep silence in the House.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes came into being consequent upon the Constitution (Sixty-fifth) Amendment in 1990. The Commission was constituted on 12th March, 1992 replacing the earlier Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted under the Resolution of 1987.

Under article 338 of the Constitution, the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was established with the objective of monitoring the safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution, and other laws. However, in due course of time, since the Commission could not pay attention to both the minorities in this country, it was decided to bifurcate it to ensure that the Scheduled Tribes are also given proper attention.

Sir, the House does not seem to be very keen on this. There is a lot of disturbance going on.

MR. SPEAKER: Please keep silence in the House.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : The setting up of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is a welcome step for the tribal population in the country because till today many of the important issues relating to the tribal population have not been addressed properly.

I would like to make certain proposals in regard to the constitution of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The Chairman and Members of the proposed National Commission for Scheduled Tribes should be eminent tribals having vast knowledge and information about the tribals of the country and the way they live. India is a vast country. India is a multilingual, multiracial, multiethnic and multireligious country. The population of tribals in India is about 8.08 per cent of the total population of the country. About 50 per cent of them are living in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand and Gujarat. There are other small tribal populations living in different parts of the country.