DW BUREAU / New Delhi

To empower the people belonging to backward classes and tribal communities residing in Punjab, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu has raised the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Bazigar, Bauria tribe, Gadila community, Nat community, Sansi community, Barad community and Bengali communities during 'Zero Hour' in the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, MP Sandhu praised the "revolutionary steps" being taken by the Union Government for empowerment and welfare of backward tribes in the country and exhorted the government to grant ST status to backward classes and tribes that have been residing in Punjab, so that they can also avail the benefits of several Central Government schemes aimed at empowering such communities.

Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Sandhu said, "Union Government has taken several steps to empower people belonging to tribal communities and backward classes in the country. Model schools have been established to provide quality education to children of people from backward tribes. Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres have been established to provide them with livelihood and steps have also been taken to eliminate Sickle Cell Anemia. Moreover, paying huge respect to the backward classes of the nation, the Union Government has announced to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as National Tribal Pride Day."

Sandhu added, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has connected these tribes with his mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas by bringing many new tribes within the ambit of Scheduled Tribes (STs). But the backward tribes of Punjab have not been registered under Scheduled Tribes. Surprisingly, even as there are more than 40 scheduled tribes in Punjab but not even a single tribe of Punjab has ever been recognized as a Scheduled Tribe till now. As a result, many people belonging to scheduled tribes have been deprived to benefits provided under several Central Government schemes."

Rajya Sabha MP further said, "Some ethnographic studies have also established that there are if not more atleast seven tribal communities exist in Punjab that must get ST status. Apart from these 7 communities, Sikligar Sikh community which is also one such tribe, that used to make weapons to protect the country and religion in the past, but this community has also been pushed to the margins."

On an emotive note, the MP said, "I am very pained to share that for years, successive Chief Ministers of Punjab made promises to recognize these tribes as Scheduled Tribes, but they never honoured those promises till now."

The MP further highlighted since these tribes were not accorded ST status, their children neither get reservation benefits nor scholarships and people from these backward tribes have been pushed to the margins. In the studies conducted by several commissions and reputed institutions, these seven communities have been declared eligible for ST status, added Sandhu.

(editor@dailyworld.in)