Why is it significant?

Indigenous nomenclature of tribes has been a long-standing demand in Arunachal Pradesh for two reasons: 

1. for the recognition of individual identity and
2. To do away with the ambiguity as a result of errors in their names. 

Most of the names for tribes in the Schedule were “colonial interpretations”. 

• The move is historic because now communities will be known by the name they identify with and not something that is imposed on them.
• Self-identification is an essence for much needed respect for small indigenous communities in the Northeast.
• This mattered especially in Arunachal, made up of many diverse communities.
• It is often said there are 26 tribes in Arunachal but the number on the ground is much higher, since there are so many tribes, sub-tribes… which are not even listed.

Who has the power to modify the list of notified STs? 

The Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in various states and union territories. Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list of notified STs. 

Definition of Scheduled Tribes: 

The Constitution does not define the criteria for recognition of Scheduled Tribes. 

• Article 366(25) of the Constitution only provides process to define Scheduled Tribes: “Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of this Constitution.” 
• Article 342(1): The President may with respect to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor, by a public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within tribes or tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe in relation to that State or Union Territory.

Cocerns:

• Since the term ‘Any Naga Tribe’ has been removed, and the four tribes (Wancho, Tutsa, Tangsa, Nocte) will not be known referred to as Naga, but known by their own names, they may not welcome the move.
• However, the move actually does not take away from the Naga identity of these tribes — it just gives them their individual identity, within the larger Naga identity.

Source: Indian Express