Bill adds Bharia, Dhanuhar to Chhattisgarh Scheduled Tribes list

It aims to correct entries and add new groups to ensure they are recognized under the Constitution for the purposes of Scheduled Tribe status.

Who it concerns: The Bill affects the communities listed in the amendments (such as Bharia Bhumia, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra, and Binjhia) and their members in the State of Chhattisgarh, who will be included in or have their names corrected in the Scheduled Tribes list.

What the bill does

• Substitutes entry 5 to include synonyms like Bharia, Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan, Paliha, and Pando.
• Inserts Dhanuhar and Dhanuwar into entry 14.
• Substitutes entries 15, 16, 27, and 33 with versions as appearing in the Hindi version of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.
• Substitutes 'Kondh' with 'Kond, Kondh' in entry 23.
• Inserts 'Kisan' into entry 32.
• Inserts 'Saunra' and 'Saonra' into entry 41.
• Inserts a new entry 43 for the 'Binjhia' community.

Also in the document

• The Bill is a Constitutional amendment.
• The changes were made after consultation with the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes.
• The Financial Memorandum notes that this may entail additional expenditures for welfare schemes, but it is not possible to estimate the amount at this stage.