Need to include the Medara Community of Andhra Pradesh in the list of Scheduled Tribes.-laid

Need to include the Medara Community of Andhra Pradesh in the list of Scheduled Tribes.-laid SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY (ONGOLE): I wish to raise a matter of urgent public importance regarding the long-pending demand for inclusion of the Medara community of Andhra Pradesh in the list of Scheduled Tribes. The Medara community is a traditional forest-dependent community primarily engaged in bamboo work and other hereditary occupations. In several States, communities with similar socio-economic conditions and traditional occupations have been recognised as Scheduled Tribes or Scheduled Castes. However, the Medara community in Andhra Pradesh continues to remain excluded from the Scheduled Tribes list, resulting in sustained social and economic backwardness. This issue has been raised in Parliament on multiple occasions. The House was informed that the Anthropological Survey of India had been entrusted with conducting a detailed study on the community, and surveys were reportedly undertaken. The Committee on Government Assurances also recommended appropriate action. Despite these assurances and recommendations, no final decision has been taken so far. I therefore urge the Hon?ble Minister for Tribal Affairs to take expeditious steps, refer the matter to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and initiate action under Article 342 of the Constitution for inclusion of the Medara community of Andhra Pradesh in the Scheduled Tribes list.