SC query on hill tribal tag

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 01 Oct 2018, Darjeeling: A Scheduled Caste association in Darjeeling has sought clarification on the fate of SC people if 11 hill communities are included in the Scheduled Tribe list as SC members are barred from buying properties from adivasis.

Lalit Baraily, the president of the Darjeeling Indigenous Scheduled Caste Welfare Association (DISCWA), said: "Our association today (Sunday) held a meeting in Darjeeling and we are concerned about our future. We want a clarification on our status if all 11 communities are granted ST status." Tribals make up around 34 per cent of the hill population now. If the 11 communities are accorded the ST status, the figure could touch 80 percent.

Baraily's association said nearly 10 per cent of the hill population belonged to the SC.

"For a non-tribal, it would be very difficult to buy properties belonging to tribals. This would essentially mean our people will suddenly find it difficult to even get land or buy properties," said Ruben Baraily, the general secretary of the association.

Non-tribals can buy properties of tribals but need special clearance from the district administration. Moreover, if any other tribal person wishes to buy tribal property, priority has to be given to the tribal member.

"Bahun (Brahmin), Chhetri and the three SC communities, Kami, Damai and Sarki are the ones who only speak in Nepali and have no other dialects. However, from this five communities, if two communities (Bahun and Chhetri) are made tribals , a peculiar situation would arise," said Lalit.

Baraily, however, said they were not opposing the demand by the 11 communities. "We are concerned that we cannot even buy land at our own place. We want the government to clarify on this issue," said Lalit.

There are three bodies representing the SC communities in the hills. "We are looking at forming a coordination committee involving the All India Nepali Scheduled Caste Association, Darjeeling District SC Uthan Samity and DISCWA," said Ruben.