Question

 

With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements:

 

1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President.
2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block.
3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States.

 

How many of the above statements are correct?

 

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

 

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Answer 

 

The correct answer is B. Only two

 

The Scheduled Tribes live in contiguous areas unlike other communities. It is, therefore, much simpler to have an area approach for development activities as well as regulatory provisions to protect their interests. In order to protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes with regard to land and other social issues, various provisions have been enshrined in the Fifth Schedule and the Sixth Schedule of the
Constitution.

 

The Fifth Schedule under Article 244(1) of Constitution defines “Scheduled Areas” as such areas as the President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas after consultation with the Governor of that State.

 

The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 (2) of the Constitution relates to those areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram which are declared as “tribal areas” and provides for District or Regional Autonomous Councils for such areas. These councils have wide ranging legislative, judicial and executive powers.

 

The Governor of each State having Scheduled Areas therein shall annually, or whenever so required by the President, make a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas in that State.

 

The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block.

 

Fifth Schedule Areas

 

The specification of “Scheduled Areas” in relation to a State is by a notified order of the President, after consultation with the State Government concerned. The same applies in the case of any alteration, increase, decrease, incorporation of new areas, or rescinding any Orders relating to “Scheduled Areas”. Criteria for declaring any area as a “Scheduled Area”. Criteria for declaring any area as a “Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule are:

 

• Preponderance of tribal population,
• Compactness and reasonable size of the area,
• A viable administrative entity such as a district, block or taluk, and
• Economic backwardness of the area as compared to the neighboring areas.

 

Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs