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Title : Need to include Marathi community in the list of Scheduled Tribes with respect to Kerala.
SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN : Sir, I would like to invite the attention of the concerned Ministry to the serious issues prevailing, especially in the Marathi community in some parts of the State of Kerala.
The Marathi community was included in the ST List in 1952 onwards, and in Kerala and Karnataka, these communities were in the ST List in both the States. In 2002, without any proper verification, they were excluded and all the benefits that were enjoyed by them were denied to the students and also to others. Both the UDF and the LDF Governments subsequently requested the Central Government and also the ST Commission to include them in the ST List. The Minorities Commission has visited the place and they have also requested and submitted the report that this community should be included in the ST List.
The prime nature of the Tribe, that is, the educational backwardness, geographical backwardness and financial backwardness, is still prevailing. So, there is no justification for their exclusion. From Kasargod to Mangalore, it comes about only 10-15 kilometres but if it is in Karnataka, that is, in Mangalore, they are included in the ST List but when it comes to Kasargod, they are not. In the same family, someone may be in the ST List and some may not be. So, there is no justification. The Central Government has taken such a decision. This is applicable to both the States. So, I would request the Government to take urgent steps to include them in the ST List.