**Executive Summary**
This document addresses a parliamentary question regarding the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Jharkhand, specifically if the State Government of Jharkhand has sent proposals for this inclusion and the process for inclusion of the Kurmi community in the ST list. The Minister of State for Tribal Affairs provides answers detailing the proposals received, the criteria for inclusion, and the ongoing examination of such proposals. The proposals sent by the Government of Jharkhand were dated 08.12.2004 and 06.01.2005.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government of Jharkhand Proposals:**
* Jharkhand had sent proposals in 2004 and 2005 for inclusion of Kurmi/Kudmi (Mahto) community in the ST list.
* The initial proposals lacked an Ethnography Report, which was later submitted by the State Government.
* The submitted Ethnography Report did not recommend the inclusion of the community in the ST list.
* **Criteria for ST List Inclusion/Exclusion:**
* The Government of India established modalities in 1999, amended in 2002 and 2022, for deciding on inclusion/exclusion from Scheduled Castes/Tribes lists.
* Only proposals recommended and justified by the State Government/UT Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are considered.
* All action on proposals is taken as per approved modalities and legislations are amended accordingly.
* Examination of proposals for inclusion, exclusion, and modification of a community is a continued process.
* **Historical Context (Based on Annexure)**
* 1931 Census Report indicated that Kurmi Mahtos may have ancestors allied to Santal and Bhumij tribes.
* Kurmi Mahtos may have been aboriginals who later adopted Hindu customs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Jharkhand State Government**
* **Impact:** Needs to understand why the original proposals were rejected.
* **Action Required:** The State Government of Jharkhand must ensure that any future proposals are accompanied by a compelling Ethnography Report that justifies the inclusion based on established criteria. They would also need to address any concerns raised by RGI and NCST.
**Kurmi/Kudmi (Mahto) Community**
* **Impact:** Potential inclusion in ST list or continued exclusion.
* **Action Required:** To strengthen their case for inclusion, the community may need to work with the State Government to address any shortcomings in the Ethnography Report. The Kurmi/Kudmi community may also need to strengthen collaboration and coordination across different geographies and sub-groups, ensure that they are aligned in their objectives.
**Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)**
* **Impact:** Required to evaluate and concur with proposals from State Governments.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate and provide feedback on any future proposals from the Jharkhand government, ensuring compliance with established criteria and regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Tribes (ST): A list of tribes recognized by the Indian government, crucial to the context of inclusion/exclusion discussions.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for matters related to Scheduled Tribes.
Jharkhand: Indian state whose government is proposing inclusion of the Kurmi community in the ST list.
Kurmi Community: The specific community being considered for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list.
Registrar General of India (RGI): Authority responsible for classifying communities. Consultation with the RGI is required for changing SC/ST listings
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2019
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025
INCLUSION OF KURMI COMMUNITY IN ST LIST
2019. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of times the proposals to cover Kurmi community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) has
been received from the Government of Jharkhand so far;
(b) whether Kurmi community was described as aboriginal tribes and Kurmi community of Chotanagpur
region was considered different from Kurmi of Bihar as per the 1931 census report and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether Kurmi community was excluded from the ST list when the same was being prepared in 1950
and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(d) the process likely to be followed to cover Kurmi community in the ST list; and
(e) whether the recommendation to cover several communities in the ST list from the State Government of
Jharkhand is pending with the Union Government and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a): The Government of Jharkhand had sent a proposal dated 08.12.2004 and 06.01.2005 for inclusion of
Kurmi/Kudmi (Mahto) community in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Jharkhand. The proposal was not
accompanied by Ethnography Report and hence the State Govt. was requested to send the proposal with
Ethnography Report. Later, the Government of Jharkhand had sent ethnographic report in respect of
Kurmi/Kudmi (Mahto) but the report did not recommend the inclusion of ‘community in the STs list of
Jharkhand.
(b) & (c): The information provided by the Office of the Registrar General of India in this regard as per
Annexure.
(d) & (e): Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) has laid down
the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders
specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists. As per the modalities, only those proposals which
have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government / UT Administration and
concurred with by Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)are to be considered and legislation amended. All action on the proposals is taken as per these approved
modalities. Examination of proposals for inclusion, exclusion and modification of a community, as per
approved modalities is a continued process. Many such proposals may, therefore, remain under examination
at different levels.