Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107) - India (Ratification: 1958)

Other comments on C107

Observation

Direct Request

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Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. Coordinated and systematic action. National Tribal Policy. The Committee notes that, in relation to the process of the adoption of the National Tribal Policy, the Government indicates in its report that in 2013 the Prime Minister’s Office requested a High-Level Committee to analyse the socio-economic situation of the Scheduled Tribes and to suggest ways forward. The report of the High-Level Committee is under examination by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and consultations have to be held on it with the state governments and ministries concerned. The adoption process policy has been suspended pending the conclusion of the review of the report on the socio-economic situation of the Scheduled Tribes. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the progress made in the adoption of the National Tribal Policy. Please indicate how the collaboration of tribal populations is sought in the preparation of this policy.

Articles 16 to 18. Vocational training, handicrafts and rural industries. The Government indicates that the National Skill Development Agency is responsible for ensuring that the skills needs of the Scheduled Tribes are taken into account in the design of skills development programmes. Special measures have been adopted to enhance the participation of members of the Scheduled Tribes in skills development and access to credit programmes. The Government reports that Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes are continuing to benefit from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on vocational training programmes addressing the needs of tribal populations, with an indication of how these programmes have contributed to increased employment opportunities for the populations concerned. Please also continue providing updated information on the outcome of the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act regarding the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Articles 21 to 26. Education. The Government indicates that the enrolment ratio and gender parity index of students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes has improved steadily over the years. Scholarship programmes have been launched to provide support for the education of children from low-income Scheduled Tribes families and Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been established in remote areas to provide quality education to students from the Scheduled Tribes. In addition, the Government has been implementing a programme to raise literacy levels among women in the Scheduled Tribes. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the impact of the education measures implemented, with an indication of how such measures take into account the social and cultural characteristics of the populations concerned.