Article 244 of the Indian Constitution states that in States with tribal populations, the State Government is responsible for ensuring timely formation of the Tribal Advisory Council, said retired IAS officer SS Pangti. He was speaking at a workshop organised by Bhumi Adhikar Manch and attended by members of the five main tribes inhabiting Uttarakhand and activists.
Speaking on the occasion, Pangti said that the TAC had not yet been formed in Uttarakhand about 14 years after creation of the State. He said that he had in the past submitted documents to the State government regarding formation of the TAC, which the State government headed by the then chief minister ND Tiwari had forwarded to the Central Government. This proposal was sent back to the State government in 2010 after being signed by the President of India directing the State government to form the TAC and its manual to ensure works for the welfare of tribals in the State. The fact that the TAC
has not been formed years after State formation shows that the political executive of the State is apathetic towards this issue, he said.
Participating in the panel discussion, Ratan Singh Jaunsari expressed concern at the failure of the State to form the TAC more than a decade after creation of Uttarakhand. He suggested that the tribals of the State should unite and question the Government as to why the TAC has not been formed yet even after approval from the Central Government. Biju Negi of Beej Bachao Andolan said that there are at least two MlAs and one cabinet minister representing the five tribes of Uttarakhand. In spite of this the Tribal Sub Plan funds are not being utilised properly in the State.
It is pertinent to mention here that of the five tribes inhabiting Uttarakhand, the Tharu constitute 33 per cent of the tribal population, Jaunsari account for 32.5 per cent, Boksa constitute 18.3, the Bhotia 143.2 per cent while the Vanraji constitute 7.50 per cent of the total tribal population in the State.