SC/ST panel stresses on need to end discrimination

SHILLONG: The scheduled tribes and scheduled castes face discrimination even in a tribal-dominated region like the North East, the parliamentary committee on the welfare of STs and SCs has observed in its report.
Chairman of the committee Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, who was in the city on Monday, said the situation “is not ideal” when it comes to delivering on the constitutional rights of the SCs and the STs.
Solanki said the gaps in fulfilling SC/ST rights mandated by the Constitution can be filled when it comes to implementation of reservation in jobs and doing away with discrimination.
The committee, which comprises members from both the Upper and the Lower houses, will soon table the report in Parliament.
Terming the committee as a “mini parliament”, Solanki said its report would be given due importance.
The committee members met banking and power sector officials and asked them to fulfil the constitutional obligations related to job reservation of SCs and STs in these sectors.
It also discussed the backlog in appointments of SC/ST candidates in both the sectors and urged the officials to look into it.