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Title : Need to include ‘Marathi’ community of Kerala especially of Kasargod and Hosdurg in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN (KASARGOD): I would like to draw the attention of the Government with regard to serious problem being faced by Marathi Community in Kerala. From 1952 onwards this community was included in the SC/ST list. They were enjoying all the benefits of the ST Community. The people in some parts of Kerala especially in Kasargod and Hosdurg and also in Karnataka which is very near to the northern part of the Kerala were included in the list. In Karnataka still now they are in the list of ST. In 2002 Government had excluded them from this list from the State of Kerala.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly, the ST Community of Kerala and Minority Commission has unanimously requested the Central Government to include them in the ST list. The prime nature of the tribal community are their isolation from other sections, the tribal nature, educationally and financially backward situation, and their different customs and conventions. As far as this ST Community in Kerala are concerned these characters are still prevailing. So there is no justification for rejecting them from this status. In the recent time again the Government of Kerala with the report have again requested the Central Government to take necessary steps. It is possible only through an amendment in the Parliament to include the Marathi Community in the ST list. So I request the Government again to consider this issue without delay.