RS approves Tribal Bill for Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha today approved by voice vote The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2008, which seeks to substitute the name of 'Dafla' tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh with 'Nyishi' community.

Piloting the bill, Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah said the Arunachal Pradesh government had been recommending since long that the name 'Nyishi' should replace 'Dafla' in the Scheduled Tribes list of the state since Dafla is a derogatory term given to the Nyishi community by outsiders.

Mr Kyndiah said before its creation as a state, Arunachal Pradesh was part of Assam. 'Dafla' community was listed as a Scheduled Tribe in Assam by the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.

After the creation of Arunachal Pradesh as a state, Dafla community was mentioned in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

At present, 16 communities, including Dafla, exist in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Bill, which was passed without any discussion, would meet the longstanding demand of the Arunachal Pradesh government and rectify the derogatory connotation attached with the term 'Dafla', he said.

UNI/SKS RR DB1343