National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST):
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NCST is constitutional body set up under Article 338A added through Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
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It was bifurcated from erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
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The First commission was constituted on 2004 with Kunwar Singh as the chairperson.
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Composition:
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Chairperson,
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A Vice-Chairperson and
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Three full-time Members (including one lady Member).
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All of them have tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge.
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The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Ministers, the Vice Chairperson has the rank of a Minister of State and other Members have the rank of a Secretary to the Government of India.
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Functions:
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Investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the STs under the Constitution or under any other law or under any order of the Government and evaluate the working of such safeguards.
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Inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of STs.
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Participate and advise in planning process of socio-economic development of the STs and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Centre and any State;
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Present before President, annually reports upon the working of those safeguards.
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It has to recommend measures to be taken by Governments for effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development STs.
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