Shimla, June 9: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) held an important meeting with Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly from Himachal Pradesh at Hotel Peterhoff in Shimla on Monday as part of its official visit to the state.
The meeting was chaired by NCST Chairman Antar Singh Arya and attended by Commission Members Nirupam Chakma and Dr. Asha Lakra, along with other senior officials.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on a wide range of issues concerning the welfare and development of tribal communities in Himachal Pradesh. Key topics included education, healthcare, road connectivity, employment opportunities, infrastructure development, and the effective implementation of various government welfare schemes in tribal regions.
Members of Parliament and legislators highlighted challenges and developmental needs from their respective constituencies and submitted suggestions to the Commission for consideration.
Addressing the gathering, NCST Chairman Antar Singh Arya said that ensuring the holistic development of tribal areas and safeguarding the rights of tribal communities remain top priorities for the Commission. He assured participants that the concerns and recommendations raised by public representatives would be examined seriously and necessary action would be pursued in coordination with the concerned departments.
Member of Parliament Suresh Kumar Kashyap and MLAs Janak Raj and Anuradha Rana raised several issues related to their constituencies. The Commission Chairman advised that these demands be formally submitted as recommendations through the State Government for further action.
Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Development) Omkar Chand Sharma welcomed the Commission to Himachal Pradesh and coordinated the proceedings of the meeting.
Officials informed the Commission that the communities notified as Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh include Bhot/Bodh, Gaddi, Gujjar, Jad, Lamba, Khampa, Kinnaura, Lahaula, Pangwala, Swangla, Beta, Beda, Demba, Gara, Joba and Hatti.
According to the 2011 Census, Himachal Pradesh has a total population of 6.865 million, of which approximately 392,000 people belong to Scheduled Tribe communities, accounting for about 5.71 percent of the state’s population.
