If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it?

UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it?

a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.

b) This would create a local self-governing body in that area.

c) This would convert that area into a Union Territory.

d) The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Correct Answer: Option a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.

Learn more about the Fifth Schedule in the Constitution in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

• The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule, it means that all land in Scheduled Area is presumed to have been Adivasi land; hence, not only should no land now pass into the hands of non-Adivasis, but any land presently owned by non-tribal should, if being transferred, come back to the hands of Scheduled Tribes.

What steps could be taken for the effective implementation of the Fifth Schedule?

Effective implementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is crucial for the social, economic, and political development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. The following steps could be taken for the effective implementation of the Fifth schedule:

• Strengthening of institutional mechanisms: The institutional mechanisms responsible for the implementation of the Fifth Schedule, such as Tribes Advisory Councils, need to be strengthened.
• Inclusive development: The development process in the Scheduled Areas should be inclusive and should address the specific needs and concerns of the tribal communities.
  • There should be provisions for social protection and welfare measures for the vulnerable sections of the population.
• Allocation of resources: The government should allocate sufficient resources to local bodies for the development of infrastructure, education, health, and other basic amenities in Scheduled Areas.
• Capacity building of the ST communities: To enable them to participate effectively in the decision-making process, the provisions of training and education for the ST community members should be implemented at the earliest.
• Devolution of powers: The government needs to promote tribal self-governance by devolving powers to local tribal councils and empowering them to make decisions on matters that affect their communities.
• Attitudinal change: The Union and state governments need to change their attitude and perception towards the welfare of the Scheduled Areas.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

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