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Bodoland of Assam became the first tribal region in the country, where 15 lakh land records were digitized – know the full story
Bodoland Territorial Region created history, it became the first tribal area of Assam where all land records are completely digitized. This is being considered a big step towards transparency and resolution of land disputes.
New Delhi: Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam has become the first tribal council area in the country to completely digitize all its land records. This achievement is considered an important step in the councils formed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to officials, more than 15 lakh land-related documents, including text and maps, have been digitized in BTR, spread over an area of 8,970 square kilometers. This work was completed just a few weeks ago, ending the process of manual record-keeping that was going on for decades.
Councils under the Sixth Schedule
North-east India has a total of 10 autonomous tribal councils under the Sixth Schedule—three each in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram, and one in Tripura. Assam’s Karbi Anglong-West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao councils were set up nearly five decades before the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The BTC was set up in 2003.
The BTC currently administers five districts in north and west Assam.
Why was digitisation necessary?
The Sixth Schedule gives special rights to tribal areas in matters related to land, forest and local governance. Despite this, these councils face lack of resources, infrastructure challenges and administrative difficulties.
The BTR administration has adopted a technology-based governance system to overcome these obstacles. According to officials, the council has made this big change by working on the lines of the e-office system and the Digital India Mission.
BTC secretary Dhiraj Saud said the process, which began in 2023, was aimed at bringing transparency in land ownership and simplifying traditional land ownership patterns.
“The process involved ground-level surveys in all districts — Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Tamulpur and Udalguri. Old records, including those dating back several decades, were digitised and matched with revenue records and maps,” he said.
Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping was also used to ensure accuracy of land boundaries.
Boost to Mission Bwismuthi 2.0
This digitisation has also given new impetus to the BTR government’s Mission Bwismuthi 2.0. The scheme, launched earlier this year, gave land rights to 47,000 landless indigenous families, including about 9,000 small tea growers and rubber farmers.
In its first phase, 14 land related services were made available and so far more than 2.11 lakh applications have been settled.
New digital facility for the public
Through the new digital platform, farmers, landholders and common citizens can now get information related to their land through kiosks, mobile applications and web portals.
A revenue department official said, “Land disputes in our region have often become a cause of social tension. Digitization will ensure transparency and the chances of corruption, fraud and conflict will be reduced to a great extent.”
An example for other councils
Officials believe that the digitization of land records and e-office system in BTR has become an ideal example for other autonomous councils of the North-East.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News
‘Extremely Vulnerable Tribal Groups’ (PVTGs) may be counted separately in the upcoming census
The government may count Extremely Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming census for the first time
New Delhi – The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) last month wrote a letter to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) urging that ‘Extremely Vulnerable Tribal Groups’ (PVTGs) be counted separately in the upcoming census.
The ministry said in its letter that the exact number of PVTG families and individuals as well as their demographic, cultural and socio-economic aspects should be recorded. The ministry believes that this information will be helpful in the effective implementation of schemes targeted for PVTGs—such as the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).
Who are PVTGs?
Extremely Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are a special sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs). They share some common characteristics—decreasing or stagnant population, geographical isolation, pre-agricultural lifestyle (hunting and gathering), economic backwardness and extremely low literacy levels.
This category was formed on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission set up in 1960-61. The commission’s chairman and then MP U.N. Dhebar studied the socio-economic status of scheduled tribes in collaboration with state governments. His report found that some tribes were far more vulnerable than others.
First, 52 groups were identified as PVTGs during the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79). Later, 23 more tribal groups were added in 2006. Currently, there are a total of 75 PVTGs in the country, spread across 18 states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Have PVTGs ever been counted separately before?
No census has so far counted PVTGs separately. Being a sub-category of Scheduled Tribes, they are usually included in the broader list of STs. At times, multiple PVTG groups are counted under the same name.
In a reply to the Lok Sabha in December 2016, the ministry had said that 40 of the 75 PVTGs have been notified as ‘single entry’ Scheduled Tribes under Article 342 of the Constitution.
For example, the Baiga community of Madhya Pradesh was counted separately in the 2011 census. But the Abujh Maria, Bharia, Hill Korba and Camara were not listed separately. Later in 2013, Abujh Maria and Hill Korba were added to the ST list of Chhattisgarh through a law of Parliament.
According to parliamentary replies, only data of main STs is published by the RGI, which also includes information on their sub-groups and synonymous groups.
What is the estimated population of PVTGs?
In November 2023, the central government launched the PM JANMAN scheme at a cost of Rs 24,104 crore. It aims to improve the socio-economic condition, health, education, livelihood and infrastructure of PVTG communities. The scheme is being implemented in more than 200 districts.
The central and state governments jointly conducted a comprehensive survey for this scheme. In this, data of PVTG settlements was collected and the lack of infrastructure was assessed.
According to the survey, the estimated number of PVTGs across the country is 47.5 lakh. Of these, the highest number of 13.22 lakh is in Madhya Pradesh. This is followed by 6.7 lakh in Maharashtra and about 5.18 lakh PVTGs in Andhra Pradesh.
The 2011 census also revealed that the population of 13 PVTGs in the country was less than 1,000. These include Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and Shompen of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Apart from this, Raji of Uttarakhand, Kota of Tamil Nadu, Birhor of Odisha, Camera of Madhya Pradesh and Savar, Birhor, Birjia, Korwa, Parhaiya of Bihar also come in this list.
The group with the least population nowas Sentinelese, whose number was recorded as only 15. At the same time, the highest population of 4,14,526 was of Baiga community of Madhya Pradesh.
Why is separate census necessary?
Government officials say that by getting the correct number of PVTGs and their socio-economic data, major flaws in the implementation of schemes can be removed. Especially schemes like health and education can be implemented more effectively.
Also, this information will also help in understanding whether the criteria set for identifying PVTGs are still relevant today or there is a need to change them.
This move will not only highlight the real condition of the tribal groups but will also help the government to formulate a concrete strategy towards bringing them into the mainstream and improving their living conditions.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News
‘Fake caste certificate deprives a qualified tribal candidate of opportunity’: Supreme Court gives relief to MBBS student of Maharashtra, imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on father
On July 7, 2022, the verification committee passed an order that Chaitanya "Mannervarlu" does not belong to the Scheduled Tribe. By this time Chaitanya had not only completed her MBBS degree but also got admission in the Post Graduate (PG) course in the general category, where she is currently in the second year.
New Delhi- The Supreme Court has given a big relief to the appellant MBBS pass Chaitanya by giving an important verdict in a famous fake caste certificate case of Maharashtra. But the apex court has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on her father. With a fake caste certificate, Chaitanya not only got admission in MBBS but also completed the degree and internship and now has got admission from the general category for the post graduate degree. The court, while maintaining a balance between equity and law, has granted relief to the student and imposed penalty on the father, saying that “this act has deprived an eligible tribal candidate of an opportunity.” The court ordered Chaitanya’s father to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the National Defence Fund within two months.
The case pertains to the “Mannervarlu” category of Scheduled Tribes (ST), under which Chaitanya had claimed she belonged to this tribe. Chaitanya was born on 7 August 1998, and when she was a minor, a caste certificate was issued in her favour on 1 July 2009, declaring her as a member of the “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe under Section 27 of the Presidential Order 1976.
Chaitanya, who wanted to take admission in MBBS course, approached the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Verification Committee, Aurangabad for verification of her certificate through her father Sanjay Vithalrao Palekar on 30 July 2015. Unfortunately, the committee delayed the verification of this claim, which led to Chaitanya getting admission to the MBBS course on 24 July 2016 on the basis of his caste certificate. He successfully completed MBBS in 2021 and started internship after completing the final year on 5 May 2021.
The records show that Chaitanya excelled in class 12 and his academic performance was also excellent during MBBS. However, on 7 July 2022, the verification committee passed an order that Chaitanya does not belong to the “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe. By this time Chaitanya had not only completed his MBBS degree but also enrolled in the Post Graduate (PG) course in the general category, where he is currently in the second year. Chaitanya filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against this decision of the committee, but it was dismissed. The core issue of the case was the fraud committed by Chaitanya’s father and uncle, who obtained new certificates in 2007 by concealing the rejection of their tribal claims in 1989.
Bombay High Court gave this decision
The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court, while passing judgement on writ petition no. 8531/2022 on July 24, 2023, upheld the order of the Verification Committee dated July 7, 2022. The High Court found that the tribal claims of Chaitanya’s father Sanjay Palekar and uncle Rajiv Palekar were rejected in 1989, and their appeal was dismissed in 1991. Despite this, they obtained new validity certificates in 2007 by concealing this fact.
The High Court termed it a constitutional fraud and said that Chaitanya’s father had filed a false affidavit before the committee, claiming that no one in his family’s claim was rejected. The court cited the Supreme Court case Raju Ramsing Vasave v Mahesh Deorao Bhiwapurkar (2008) 9 SCC 54, which held that certificates obtained by fraud are invalid and not binding on other family members. The High Court also observed that the certificates of other relatives submitted by Chaitanya were also based on fraud, as earlier rejections were concealed.
Rejecting the debate on the review power of the committee, the court clarified that this is a clear case of fraud and not an issue of review. The High Court rejected Chaitanya’s reference to other cases where directions were given to issue validity certificates pending scrutiny of relatives’ certificates. The court said that this case is an example of clear fraud on the Constitution and Chaitanya cannot benefit from the fraud of his father and relatives. Dismissing the petition, the High Court said that the affidavits filed by Chaitanya and his father were false and the committee was justified in rejecting the claim.
Supreme Court order
The Supreme Court bench of Justice J.B. A bench of Justices Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan partly allowed Chaitanya’s appeal in Civil Appeal No. 11196/2025. The court upheld the High Court’s findings, saying there was no legal error, but granted relief in special circumstances, taking into account Chaitanya’s educational qualifications and career prospects.
The court noted that Chaitanya has completed MBBS and is pursuing a PG course in the general category. If the appeal was dismissed, her entire career would be at stake. The court held Chaitanya’s father primarily responsible for the situation, who put his daughter in trouble by concealing crucial facts. Referring to its interim order (28 November 2023), the court took on record the affidavit of the father, in which he gave up the claim of “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe for himself and his family.
The court regularised Chaitanya’s MBBS admission and directed the university to issue his degree certificate, which would be final. Chaitanya was, however, barred from claiming Scheduled Tribe anytime in the future. Acknowledging that due to this fraud a deserving Scheduled Tribe candidate lost the opportunity of pursuing MBBS course, the court ordered Chaitanya’s father to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the National Defence Fund within two months.
The matter was again listed after two months for a compliance report. The court also observed that if the verification committee had conducted a timely inquiry, this situation might not have arisen. The Supreme Court order overrides the High Court’s decision, regularising only Chaitanya’s MBBS admission, while upholding the High Court’s decision on all other aspects.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit professor of IIM Bangalore is among the top 20 marketing researchers in the world, but is facing the brunt of caste-based humiliation in the institute.
Professor Gopal Das, who is also included in the list of Stanford University, has accused 8 people including the IIM director of harassment, know what was revealed in the DCRE investigation report.
Bangalore: On one hand, there is the story of India’s flag flying in the global academic world, on the other hand, the agony of struggling for respect in the country’s prestigious institute. Gopal Das, Marketing Associate Professor and Dalit scholar of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), has registered his name among the top 20 marketing researchers in the world. In this list released by Marketing Big15 USA in August, he has got the first place in India and second place in Asia, while globally he is at the 17th position.
This honor has been given to him for his exceptional contribution to the world’s most prestigious ‘Marketing Big 15’ journals from 2018 to 2025. These journals are recognized by global standards like University of Texas at Dallas and Financial Times. Professor Das is the only Indian in this exclusive global list, which is a proud moment not only for IIMB but for the entire country.
But behind this glorious achievement lies a bitter truth. Professor Das has made serious allegations of systematic harassment, humiliation and denial of opportunities at IIMB because he belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.
A long journey of achievements
This global ranking of Professor Das is a testimony to his consistent excellence. He has been making it to the list of top 2% scientists in the world released by Stanford University for five consecutive years, including the recent 2024 list.
He joined IIMB in 2017 after completing his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. His research focuses on areas such as consumer emotions, sensory marketing and ethical decision making. He is also on the editorial review board of several prestigious journals such as the ‘Journal of Public Policy and Marketing’.
Serious allegations of discrimination and legal battle
Professor Das, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community and identifies himself as a Dalit, has publicly alleged caste-based discrimination at IIMB. His claims have sparked a major debate.
- June 2024: Professor Das lodged a complaint with President Draupadi Murmu, who visited IIMB. In this, he accused the then director of the institute Rishikesh T Krishnan, Dean (Faculty) Dinesh Kumar and six other faculty members of harassment, humiliation and denial of equal opportunities on the basis of caste. He claimed that he was excluded from important committees, not promoted and investigations were initiated against him for financial irregularities and complaints of students in a vindictive manner.
- November-December 2024: The Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) of the Government of Karnataka investigated the matter. The inquiry report released on December 19, 2024 confirmed that Professor Das faced “humiliation and exclusion” due to caste discrimination. The report recommended action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
- December 21, 2024: Based on the DCRE report, Bengaluru police filed an FIR against the eight accused under sections of the SC/ST Act and IPC. Student organisations such as the All India OBC Students’ Association (AIOBCSA) demanded the director’s resignation.
IIMB’s side
However, IIMB dismissed all these allegations as “baseless”. The institute says that these allegations surfaced after Professor Das’ promotion was deferred in 2024 due to complaints of misconduct and sexual harassment by students against him. The institute emphasised its commitment to inclusivity, saying that Professor Das had been appointed to key positions such as the chairperson of the Institutional Review Board before the controversies.
Until December 31, 2024, the court stayed all proceedings, giving the accused an opportunity to challenge the FIR.
The case has become the centre of a wider discussion on caste dynamics in India’s top institutions. Professor Das’s supporters see his global ranking as a fitting reply to alleged bias against him. As of September 2025, the case is still sub judice with no final verdict.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy : Hindi News
Ahmedabad upper caste full of contempt towards not just Dalits but also OBCs
Who doesn't know that casteism is all-pervasive in India. However, when one talks of casteism, often things boil down to the intensity of untouchability, officially abolished after India became a republic, found in not just in rural areas but also in towns and cities.
I found it existing when I settled down in Ahmedabad, living in a two bedroom apartment in a supposedly posh area. The person who would come to pick up trash daily at our doorstep would be given food leftover in the evening. While we wouldn’t have any leftover, the next door neighbour would give it in such a way that she or he doesn’t come in direct contact (touch) of the person, who would belong to the Valmiki community, “lowest” in the Hindu social ladder.
That was in mid-1990s. We are now living in the third decade of the 21st century. It’s a middle class society where I live in Ahmedabad. I often hear phrases like “these scheduled castes” from persons belonging to upper castes to declare how Dalits refuse to live clean when they see footwear lying in the corridors outside the doorsteps of the flats where Dalits live.
Of course, they are not so much contemptuous towards Banias or Brahmins, many of whom also keep footwear outside the doorsteps, in the corridor. They are at least not identified with their caste. Be that as it may, I have found, casteism takes various forms in Ahmedabad societies where mainly upper caste people live.
Thus, a person very close to me told me how the society chairman angrily protested against the move to sell the flat to an individual with Mali surname. “We were told not to sell to a Mali, who belongs to the other backward class (OBC). We were warned, if the society flat was sold to Mali, the flat wouldn’t be transferred in his name. Only Brahmins and Banias are allowed”, the person close to me told me.
Yet, the person told me, the flat was sold to Mali, despite resistance. A rich person, Mali was finally accepted, as he was apparently identified as a good person, an “exception” among OBCs! Apparently, the society chairman found out that a transfer fee of Rs 30,000 wouldn’t be received if the transfer is “not allowed” — and the Mali fellow didn’t care two hoots.
By Rajiv Shah
Courtesy : Counterview
6
Dalit leader attacked in front of DGP office by ‘VCK workers’
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran alleged that opposition leaders were increasingly being targeted.
CHENNAI: The attack on Puratchi Tamizhagam Katchi (PTK) president ‘Airport’ Moorthy outside the DGP’s office here on Saturday, allegedly by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) cadre, has attracted sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Moorthy, who accompanied Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MLA R Arul to submit a complaint to DGP (in-charge) G Venkataraman on Saturday, was attacked and the video of the incident was viral on social media.
He later told media persons that he was attacked by a group of VCK cadres over his criticism of VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan. Further, Moorthy alleged that he has been constantly facing threats to his life from VCK cadre.
PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss termed the assault “highly condemnable” and called for the immediate arrest of the attackers, besides calling for security for Moorthy. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran alleged that opposition leaders were increasingly being targeted.
AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran said the attack outside the DGP’s office was a “disgrace to the police force”. Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman described the assault as proof of deteriorating law and order.
Both Moorthy and VCK worker Selvam later went to the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner’s office to file separate complaints against each other over the incident.
VCK urges Tamil Nadu government to declare Madurai caste-atrocity-prone
The VCK’s demand comes after the suspicious death of a Dalit Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus conductor in Madurai. On September 2, the body of 43-year-old G Ramakrishnan was found at a dumpyard near Austinpatti in Madurai district.
Reports say Ramakrishnan had recently lost an election for the treasurer post of a trade union. His wife, Ramuthulasi, has alleged injuries on his body in her police complaint. Police have reportedly registered a case of suspicious death, and the post mortem is under way.
Thirumavalavan, after meeting Ramakrishnan’s family in Madurai, said Ramakrishnan was a member of a trade union affiliated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). “The trade union was divided into two or three factions during the election. It both said that the rival candidate won and that he was on the verge of defeat. We cannot tell what manipulations took place in that election. Ramakrishnan faced threats and harassment, according to his wife and father, Gurusamy. The family strongly suspects that this death is unlikely to be a suicide and is more likely a murder,” he added.
The VCK has demanded that the investigation be handled by a special police team and plans to approach the Madras High Court to press this demand. Thirumavalavan further said, “I have told the CM many times, and I have been saying for decades that a separate intelligence unit is needed to detect in advance the atrocities committed in the name of caste and religion. Only on that basis can such actions be curbed to some extent.”
He also emphasised the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be properly implemented. “There is great delay and reluctance in implementing this law. Murder cases were often registered under Section 174 CrPC and now under BNS Section 194. Police later close the case as a suicide. Such a situation is deeply worrying,” he said, urging the state government to act responsibly, pay special attention, and ensure justice for the victims.”
The VCK also handed over Rs 75,000 in aid to Ramakrishnan’s family.
Earlier calls to declare Madurai atrocity-prone
On August 30, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] state secretary P Shanmugam demanded that the five southern districts — Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi — be declared caste atrocity-prone. Speaking in Madurai at a public conference organised by the NGO Evidence on caste killings, he accused both the DMK and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) of consolidating dominant caste-based vote banks.
Demands to declare certain districts in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the south, as caste atrocity-prone have been longstanding. After the murder of Dalit IT professional Kavin Selvaganesh in Tirunelveli in July, similar calls were made.
In 2022, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs stated that 37 out of the 38 districts in Tamil Nadu are atrocity prone. A 2021 RTI response to Evidence revealed that between 2016 and 2020, 300 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) persons were murdered in Tamil Nadu, but only 13 convictions were recorded. Thoothukudi district had the highest number of murders (29), followed by Madurai (28), with nine cases in Madurai city alone. At that time, 20 of the Madurai cases were still pending in court.
In 2023, the NGO Citizens Monitoring and Vigilance Committee (CMVC) released district-wise data on caste atrocity cases pending trial in special courts. The Tirunelveli special court had 822 cases pending trial — the highest in the state — followed by the Madurai SC/ST special court with 668 cases.
ReservationKarnataka Guv gives assent to ordinance hiking SC/ST reservation
Bengaluru/UNI: Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot gave his assent to BJP government's ordinance to increase the reservation quota of SCs and STs in jobs and the education sector in the state.
This paved the way to increase the reservation of SCs from 15 per cent to 17 per cent, and STs from 3 per cent to 7 per cent.
"The number of castes increased drastically after the inclusion of some more communities, and the total population of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the State went up by leaps and bounds," the gazette notification issued by the government on Sunday said.
The notification further stated that the increase in the reservation was based on a detailed study and analysis.
The ordinance comes ahead of 2023 assembly elections in the state.
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