National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

The National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has informed that Clause (5) of Article 338 A of the Constitution vests with the NCST the duty to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes, to inquire into specific complaints with respect to deprivation of rights and safeguards and to participate and advise in the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development. Accordingly, the recommendations of the Commission are of two types. One relating to violation of rights and safeguards and the other relating to socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes. Wherever, the recommendations of the NCST highlight violation of the Constitutional rights and safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes, the Authority concerned is mandated to rectify the violation by accepting the recommendation of the NCST. As regards recommendation relating to development issues and change of existing policy or evolving a new policy relating to Scheduled Tribes, such recommendation has to be examined and considered as per laid down procedure.