Questioning the rationale behind clamour for a separate and dedicated Scheduled Tribes Commission in Jharkhand, Tribal Welfare Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Sharma stressed upon empowering the existing body in all the ways.
He advocated that the Commission should be given investigative powers, proper manpower and other desired facilities for making the body effective in real terms.
The views came in the lights of a study conducted by the ‘Poorest Areas Civil Society’ (PACS) about role and existence of the Commission in the State. Outcome suggests that about 92 per cent of the respondents comprising from two districts paid their ignorance about presence of any such body for their welfare and whatever information they have are coming through the media or NGOs.
“This looks imperative that a separate ST Commission should be in place. But before that we should look into role the existing Commission is playing. Do we require a new CommissionIJ We always try to create new initiatives but no one thinks about strengthening them. Instead of 4-5 different weaker commissions we should keep one or two empowered ones,” said Sharma.
Jharkhand, with 27 per cent tribal population, has no ST Commission at the State level but just an office of the Central ST Commission with about five working staffs at Ranchi. This lacuna has made the voice for a separate Commission at State level stronger.
Though, the Commissioner differed and suggested for powers to similar Commissions existing. “We have so many Commissions such as State Woman Commission, Information Commission and others but none has its own investigation wing. Till these Commissions remain dependent on Government they cannot function,” said the Commissioner.
He also added that public hearing should be done to mitigate the complaints related to atrocities taking against the community and the Commission’s recommendations should be binding in nature. Sharma at the same time also stressed over need for proper qualification for the members.
PACS study also indicated towards missing link between Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Commission that limits its outreach among masses. Development Economist Ramesh Sharan also seconded the call to empower such Commissions with suitable participation of women and scheduled tribes.
Rights activist Gladson Dungdung raised the reported killings of tribals for sake of their land and questioned the expenditure done for the community as the Centre has released about Rs 21,000 crore under Tribal Sub-plan over the years.