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Mahesh

08/02/23 08:23 AM IST

NCST functioning with less than 50% of sanctioned strength

In News
  • Data presented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) has revealed that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes(NCST) is currently functioning with less than 50% of its sanctioned strength.
About NCST
  • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes(NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
  • By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely (i) the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and (ii) the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
Composition
  • The term of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and each member is three years from the date of assumption of charge.
  • The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Minister and the Vice-Chairperson that of a Minister of State and other Members have the ranks of a Secretary to the Government of India.
  • They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
  • At least one member should be a woman.
  • The members are not eligible for appointments for more than two terms.
Issues
  • The sanctioned strength of the ST panel is one Chairperson+ one Vice-Chairperson+ three Members= total of Five members (two among V-C and Members must be from the ST community and one member must be a woman).
  • However, currently, it just has a Chairperson (Harsh Chouhan) and one Member (Ananta Nayak) with all other positions, including that of the mandatory ST Member, vacant for the last three years.
  • In the financial year 2021-22, it has met only four times.
  • Its rate of pendency of resolution of complaints and cases that it receives is also close to 50%
Source- The Hindu

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