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A measure to give the Hattee people in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour district the status of a Scheduled Tribe was approved by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Upper House of Parliament passed the Constitution Order (Third Amendment) Bill 2022 by voice vote. The law was approved by Lok Sabha in December 2022.
The bill's sponsor, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, claimed that it brings justice to the Hattee community in the Sirmour district's Trans Giri area.
He pointed out that after the bill is passed, there will be 5.5 lakh ST people instead of the current 3.5 lakh in Himachal Pradesh.
The bill implements the Himachal Pradesh government's recommendations that the Hattee group be included in the state's list of Scheduled Tribes.
Members of the Hattee group will be eligible for all benefits offered to Scheduled Tribes after the President signs the bill, including reservations in government positions and educational institutions.
The Central government has requested more information about 81 communities, according to Munda, despite the fact that the Odisha government supplied a list of 169 communities for consideration for ST status.
The bill was initially submitted by the minister of tribal affairs as INDIA, the main opposition group, walked out in protest at the government's stance on the call for a debate on the Manipur issue.
