**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has received a proposal from the State Government of Odisha to include the Jhodia community in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) list. This proposal was not supported by the ORGI and has been returned to the State Government. There have been requests to include the Soura language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, but there are no fixed criteria to consider a language.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Jhodia Community Inclusion in ST List:**
* The State Government of Odisha proposed to include the Jhodia community in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) list as a synonym of Paroja.
* The proposal was not supported by the ORGI.
* The matter has been referred back to the State Government.
* **Process for ST List Inclusion:**
* Proposals for inclusion in the ST list require an ethnographic report from the State Government.
* Proposals are examined by the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST.
* If the RGI does not recommend a proposal, the State Government is notified of the reasons.
* The State Government may furnish additional information.
* Many proposals may remain under examination at various levels.
* **Soura Language Inclusion in Eighth Schedule:**
* Demands exist for the inclusion of several languages, including Soura, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
* No fixed criteria exist for considering a language for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
* Previous attempts to define fixed criteria have been inconclusive.
* The government acknowledges sentiments and requirements.
* No time-frame can be fixed to consider demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Odisha**
* **Impact:** Needs to address the ORGI's concerns regarding the Jhodia community proposal and potentially provide additional information.
* **Action Required:** Review the ORGI's feedback, revise the proposal if necessary, and resubmit to the relevant authorities.
**Jhodia Community**
* **Impact:** The community's inclusion in the ST list remains pending and uncertain.
* **Action Required:** Await further developments and potential actions by the State Government.
**Speakers of Soura Language**
* **Impact:** Inclusion of Soura language in the Eight Schedule remains uncertain due to lack of fixed criteria.
* **Action Required:** Continue advocating for the language's recognition while understanding the limitations in place.
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Tribes (STs): Refers to the list of tribes recognized by the Indian government and the process for inclusion.
Eight Schedule of the Constitution: Deals with the inclusion of languages, specifically referencing Soura (Sora) language.
Odisha: Indian state from whose government the proposal originated.
Registrar General of India (RGI): Office responsible for examining proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): Commission that examines proposals after the RGI regarding Scheduled Tribes.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Tribal Status for Jhodia Community and
Recognition of Soura Language
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 2:22PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the
proposal from State Government of Odisha has been received for inclusion of Jhodia community in the
Scheduled Tribes (STs) list of Odisha, as synonym of Paroja at S.No.55 in list of STs. The said proposal
was not supported by the ORGI and the matter has been referred back to the State Government.
The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union Territory follow certain
processes. Proposals received from the State Government should be accompanied by an ethnographic
report. The proposals are examined by the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST. In case the proposal is
not recommended by the RGI, the State Governments are communicated the points raised by the RGI, so
that additional information, if any, maybe furnished by the State Government. Many such proposals may
therefore remain under examination at different levels.
Further, in the matter of inclusion of Soura (Sora) language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, as
per the information provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is stated that there have been demands
from time to time for inclusion of several languages, including Soura, in the Eighth Schedule to the
Constitution. However, there are no fixed criteria for consideration of any language for inclusion in the
Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. As the evolution of dialects and languages is a dynamic process,
influenced by socio-cultural, economic and political developments, it is difficult to fix any criterion for
languages for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. The earlier attempts, through the
Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committees, to evolve such fixed criteria have been
inconclusive. The Government is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion of other
languages in the Eighth Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments,
and the other relevant considerations. Since at present, there are no fixed criteria for any language to be
considered for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, no time-frame can be fixed for
consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
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