Girijana Aikya Vedika opposes inclusion of Boyas, Valmikis in ST list

The Girijan Aikya Vedika has opposed the proposed inclusion of the Boya and Valmiki communities, which are currently categorised under BC-A, in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list of Andhra Pradesh.

The move threatens the Constitutional validity of ST classification, apart from posing a risk to the welfare of Adivasi communities, the Vedika said.

In a statement on Friday, Girijana Aikya Vedika State working president Bapatla Venkatapathi said that as per Article 342 of the Constitution, only the President of India, in consultation with the Governor, can notify a community as ST, and any subsequent inclusion or exclusion requires a Parliamentary Act.

The inclusion process also involves rigorous examination by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

Lokur Committee guidelines

The key criteria for ST classification as per the Lokur Committee guidelines (1965) include: primitive traits and traditional livelihoods (e.g., hunting, forest-dependence), distinct culture, customs, and language, geographical and social isolation, socio-economic backwardness and shyness of contact with the wider society.

He noted that the Boyas and Valmikis do not satisfy these criteria in the current socio-economic context of Andhra Pradesh. With STs currently receiving 6% reservation (proposed 10%), the addition of nearly 18 lakh Boyas and Valmikis would severely burden the quota system. This threatens existing marginalised tribes like Chenchu, Yerukala, Yanadi, and Kondadora, who are already struggling for fair representation in education, employment, and governance, said Mr. Venkatapathi.

Adivasi organisations, including the State Adivasi Girijana Sangham, have likened this proposal to the Meitei-ST conflict in Manipur, cautioning that such ‘reckless policy’ could spark unrest in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Venkatapathi noted that the one-man commission headed by I. Samuel Anand Kumar lacked meaningful consultation with the ST communities. Relying on such an isolated review for a critical Constitutional change undermines democratic processes, he said.