In view of the recent Parliamentary Standing Committee report, discuss the issues faced by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and suggest measures that can be adopted to strengthen it.

Parliamentary Standing Committee reported NCST to be a deficient organisation-which has just submitted a report in 4 years. NCST - a constitutional body. Set 332. Protection of tribals of India (SBC population). Issues faced by NCST - (1) lack of funds. (2) Nature recommendatory - cannot take action. (3) large number of vacancies. In NCST - (4) lack of trained people from experienced tribal background. (5) Used as post for political replacement of leaders.

Measures - (1) Mandatory admission of report & tabling in Parliament. (2) Time given to report & measures taken and some to be published. (3) Full vacancies. (4) Fund allocation.