Chief minister Hemant Soren chaired his government’s first meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) on Monday amid a boycott by Opposition MLAs who called its composition "unconstitutional" as the state's governor wasn't a part of it.

The council, mandated under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, is a significant step forward for Jharkhand in planning welfare and development schemes for adivasis. On June 22, the state government reconstituted the TAC with the chief minister as honorary chairman and the state tribal affairs minister as the honorary deputy chairperson. Fifteen MLAs, including three from the Opposition BJP, are also a part of TAC, besides two nominated experts from the ST and SC community.

Addressing a virtual meeting in the evening, Hemant said that for the first time since the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, proper rules and regulations had been framed while reconstituting TAC.

“Our government intends to strengthen TAC by using its recommendations and prescribed frameworks to chart out state’s development. About 27 per cent of the state's population is tribal and our focus is on their social and economical inclusion in mainstream society,” he said, stressing the need to provide special focus on education and health for tribals.

“Adivasis need special push and assistance in these two sectors to tackle the concerns of diminishing population and to set them on the road to development. Plans and schemes for tribals should be in sync with today’s time and needs to help them get the right education and livelihoods. Now that TAC is in place, the government will ensure that this body remains functional. From the next meeting, all members will collectively work towards devising plans and policies to push for growth in tribal areas,” he said.

BJP's Babulal Marandi (centre) with others raising voice against TAC. Telegraph picture

Vice-chairman of TAC Champai Soren maintained that although there are a host of laws and welfare schemes to safeguard tribals, but a lack of awareness and improper execution on ground often lead to the failure of the measures intended for them. “Based on regular feedback from all the members, we will aim to make plans and policies intended for tribals work in their favour,” he said.

All three BJP members of TAC _ MLAs Babulal Marandi (Dhanwar), Neelkant Singh Munda (Khunti) and Koche Munda (Torpa) _ boycotted Monday's meeting.

Explaining the reasons behind thier move, Marandi, the state’s first tribal chief minister and BJP leader of its legislature party, said, “We are calling it unconstitutional because the powers of the governor have been bypassed and diluted in its (TAC) formation. This is unprecedented. The governor is the constitutional guardian of scheduled areas.”

“Also, the head of the TAC should be from the ST community not the CM as it defeats the entire purpose of this body, which is solely for working out a roadmap for schemes and projects for tribal development. There is no representation of women and particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). BJP will continue to boycott TAC till it is rectified," he said adding that the party had, earlier in July, submitted a memorandum to the governor demanding changes in TAC.