Scheduled Area and Scheduled Tribes Commission (Bhuria Commission) Report

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE The Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission, also known as the Bhuria Commission, was appointed by President K.R. Narayanan in 2002. Led by Dileep Singh Bhuria, a Lok Sabha member from an Adivasi community, the commission had a crucial mandate:\

The Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission, also known as the Bhuria Commission, was appointed by President K.R. Narayanan in 2002. Led by Dileep Singh Bhuria, a Lok Sabha member from an Adivasi community, the commission had a crucial mandate:

1. Investigation and Reporting:
   • The Bhuria Commission was tasked with investigating and reporting on the problems faced by Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India.
   • It aimed to formulate a comprehensive tribal policy and outline a vision for the future of STs. 
2. Three Volumes of Reports:
   • The commission submitted its report in three volumes in 2004.
   • Volume II of the Bhuria Commission Report contains detailed reports on 26 states and four union territories.
   • These reports were based on the commission’s field visits, interactions with tribal development authorities, and insights from Adivasis, social organizations, political entities, and tribal organizations.
3. Assessment Areas:
   • During field visits, the commission assessed various facets of tribal development, including:
     • Literacy
     • Land
     • Economy
     • Infrastructure
     • Implementation of constitutional safeguards for STs
     • The impact of the Tribal Sub-Plan (launched in 1974-78)
4. Challenges and Recommendations:
   • The Bhuria Commission highlighted disparities in literacy rates, economic conditions, and infrastructure across different states.
   • For instance:
     • In Andhra Pradesh, the literacy growth rate for the general population was significantly higher than that for STs.
     • Arunachal Pradesh faced economic challenges due to inhospitable topography, climatic conditions, and inadequate infrastructure.
     • The northeastern states had a significant area under shifting cultivation, affecting tribal livelihoods.
     • Recommendations included implementing centrally-funded projects to transition STs to sustainable occupations in agriculture and allied sectors.
5. Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH):
   • DNH, where 62.25% of the population consists of STs, experienced rapid industrialization and an influx of migrants from Gujarat and Maharashtra.