Regional Offices

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has six Regional Offices located at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Shillong. The NCST’s regional offices keep a watch on the formulation of policies and issue guidelines relating to the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the states/UTs, and they keep the Commission’s headquarters informed about the developments periodically. Policy decisions taken by any State Government/UT Administration affecting the interests of the Scheduled Tribes are brought to the notice of concerned authorities for necessary action. Heads of the Regional Offices also represent the Commission in the following State Level Committees and Meetings and provide observations/feedback about the working of the policies/schemes/programs for Scheduled Tribes in the State(s) under their jurisdiction:

1. State Level Monitoring Committee (Headed by the Chief Minister of the State concerned) on implementing the POA Act, 1989.
   
2. State-Level Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee Meetings as a Special Invitee Member.
   
3. State-level Bankers Committee Meeting organised by the Nationalized Lead Bank in the State.
   
4. Nagar Rajbhasha Karyanvayan Samiti Meetings; and
   
5. Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee Meetings.

The Regional Offices of the Commission assist in collecting and compiling statistical and other forms of information from the State Governments/Union Territories under their jurisdiction in connection with the Visits of the Commission, Review Meetings taken by the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and/or Members of the Commission.

The Regional Offices also receive many communications from individuals or associations, including grievances and matters relating to Scheduled Tribes. As most of the cases received in the Regional Offices relate to offices in the States, the concerned Regional Office acts on those cases/receipts. The Regional Offices in the States enable the local Scheduled Tribes and their representatives/associations to quickly approach the Commission (through the concerned Regional Office). Further, the presence of the Regional Offices within the State and their participation and contributions to various Committees fosters a constructive relationship between the Regional Office and the concerned authorities. Consequently, these Regional Offices play an important role in promptly disposing of grievance complaints or violations of safeguards for Scheduled Tribes in the States under the jurisdiction of the Regional Offices. Notably, in cases where the power of the Civil Court is required to be exercised by the Member of the Commission during a Sitting, the same is referred by the Regional Offices to the Headquarters for taking necessary action in the matter.