Overview
- The state’s Tribal Development Department issued a government resolution on July 16 constituting a 27-member committee to study whether Scheduled Tribe members who convert to another religion should keep reservation and welfare benefits.
- The panel is chaired by Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike and includes the minister of state for tribal development, 26 MLAs from ST constituencies and the Tribal Research and Training Institute commissioner as member secretary.
- The GR tasks the committee with examining central law, Article 342, and the approaches of other states but sets no deadline for submitting recommendations.
- The review follows pressure from Sangh Parivar–linked groups that called for ‘delisting’ of converts and an Assembly attention notice about alleged inducement-driven conversions in Navapur that prompted ministers to promise a committee.
- Legal experts and tribal activists say ST status is not tied to religion under current law and warn any change would likely require a constitutional or statutory amendment and could prompt court challenges and harm access to education and welfare for tribal families.