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Centre mulls classification of SC sub-groups in Andhra New Delhi, Oct 19: Even as Bihar government's move to decategorise the Scheduled Castes (SC) by constituting Mahadalit Commission in the state triggered a controversy, the Central government is learnt to have sought the views of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) over a similar proposal for Andhra Pradesh. Sources said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has sought views of the NCSC over the Usha Mehra Commission report, which reportedly favoured classification of the SC in sub-groups and recommended a constitutional amendment for the purpose. The Central government plans to introduce a Bill in Parliament to implement the recommendations and hence the view of NCSC has been sought, sources said. With the Assembly Elections in Andhra Pradesh and the Lok Sabha Elections not far off, the move is likely to trigger a political chain reaction as the issue has strong social and political connotations. There are two major sub-groups -- Madigas and Malas -- among the SC in the state. While Madigas including cobblers constitute 60 to 70 percent of the total SC population in the state and are mostly engaged in leather-related works, Malas are between 30 to 40 percent of the total SC population. Madigas, despite constituting the largest chunk of population there, lag far behind the Malas in economic and social status. Malas benefited from reservation and other government policies owing to their being comparatively well-off and more educated in the southern state. The community had been demanding separate reservations for them for long time and had even organised a fast unto death under the banner of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti to demand introduction of a bill on SC classification in Parliament a few months back. The Mehra Commission, which submitted its report to Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar on May 01 this year is learnt to have viewed that decategorisation is needed to uplift the status of the deprived lot among the SCs. The Commission was constituted by the Centre at the request of the state after the Supreme Court had struck down classification of the SCs done by the erstwhile TDP government of the state last year. The government had then categorised the SC into A, B, C and D categories depending on their varying social and financial status in the SC category. NCSC members have already discussed the report and are reportedly divided in their opinion. A Commission official said, "This issue has already been discussed in our board but we have not come to a conclusion. Various members have different views but the majority of the members are of the opinion that it's a state issue and Andhra Pradesh can give concessions to any community if it wants." The NCSC official said Commission members felt that categorisation is against the Constitution. They also feel that even if the government okays the decategorisation, it will not stand court scrutiny if somebody challenges it. The Commission members also dwelt on the idea that once the decategorisation is allowed, it will open a Pandora's box and similar demands would begin from other quarters. The Commission has veered around the view that a middle path should be sought. "We are trying to recommend a middle path which gives the Madigas the needed benefits without violating the constitutional norms," it said. Sources say the Commission will take a final decision in this regard in a full-bench meeting scheduled in the end of this month. The undivided National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (NCSCT) had rejected a similar proposal almost a decade back earlier. Bureau Report
