Functions of National Commission for ST

The functions of the Commission are:

(a) To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the STs and to evaluate their working;

(b) To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the STs;

(c) To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the STs and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union or a state;

(d) To present to the President, annually and at such other times as it may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

(e) To make recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or a state for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the STs; and

(f) To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the STs as the President may specify.

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION
In 2005, the President specified the following other functions of the Commission in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the STs:

(i) Measures to be taken over conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to STs living in forest areas

(ii) Measures to be taken to safeguard rights of the tribal communities over mineral resources, water resources etc., as per law

(iii) Measures to be taken for the development of tribals and to work for more viable livelihood strategies

(iv) Measures to be taken to improve the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups displaced by development projects

(v) Measures to be taken to prevent alienation of tribal people from land and to effectively rehabilitate such people in whose case alienation has already taken place

(vi) Measures to be taken to elicit maximum cooperation and involvement of tribal communities for protecting forests and undertaking social afforestation
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(vii) Measures to be taken to ensure full implementation of the Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

(viii) Measures to be taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the practice of shifting cultivation by tribals that lead to their continuous disempowerment and degradation of land and the environment

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
   The Commission presents an annual report to the President. It can also submit a report as and when it thinks necessary.

   The President places all such reports before the Parliament, along with a memorandum explaining the action taken on the recommendations made by the Commission. The memorandum should also contain the reasons for the non-acceptance of any of such recommendations.

   The President also forwards any report of the Commission pertaining to a state government to the state governor. The governor places it before the state legislature, along with a memorandum explaining the action taken on the recommendations of the Commission. The memorandum should also contain the reasons for the non-acceptance of any of such recommendations.