Context: Recently, the Gujarat government has decided to form a five-member commission to identify members of Rabari, Bharvad and Charan communities, who are eligible for benefits of Schedule Tribe (ST) status.
Issue

• In October 1956, the central government conferred ST status on people of Rabari, Bharvad and Charan communities, living in nesses (tiny, oval-shaped hutments made of mud) of Gir, Barda and Alech areas of Gujarat.
• However, it has been alleged that a number of people not living in nesses have managed to get ST certificates and are enjoying undue reservation benefits, mainly in government jobs.
• Leaders of these three communities and other communities as well, have been protesting for quite some time against this.

Objective of the Commission

• To resolve this issue and identify the legitimate beneficiaries of ST status among the members of the three communities.
• To ensure that the eligible members of the tribes are not devoid of their right and the others do not get an undue benefit in their names.

Composition

• The five-member commission will comprise a retired judge of the high court as the head, two district judges, one retired forest officer and one retired revenue officer.

About Rabari Tribe

• They migrated from Rajasthan via Kutch and now most of them live in the Okhamandal region of Jamnagar district.
• They speak ‘Bhopa’ which is a mixture of Gujarati, Kachchi, Marwari words and Pharasi (Persian) and use Gujarati script.
• Women stand in almost equal status to that of men.
• The main economic activity is sheep breeding and selling of milk. Only a few of them own cultivable agricultural land. Recently, they have started engaging as wage labourers in industrial establishments both as skilled and unskilled labourers.
• They profess Hinduism and are followers of Shiva and Shakti.
• Their folk songs are called ‘Siya’.

About Bharvad Tribe

• The term Bharwad is a modified form of the word 'Badawad’.
• ‘Bada' means sheep and 'Wada' refers to compound or enclosure. The person who possesses compounds or pens is known as Badawad.
• They communicate in Gujarati and use Gujarati script.
• Bharwad women have a lower status.
• The Bharwads are pastorals who are permitted to graze their sheep and cattle in certain demarcated areas of the reserved forest. Some of them possess dry agricultural land and earn their livelihood as agricultural labourers.
• They profess Hinduism and Krishna is considered the supreme God.

About Charan Tribe

• The Charan, also called Gadhvi, is a small tribe in Gujarat and the name Charan is derived from the word ‘Char’ which means grazing.
• They speak Gujarati and use Gujarati script.
• They marry within their community and practice monogamy.
• The Charans are traditionally cattle breeders. They have also adopted agriculture as their secondary occupation.
• They profess Hinduism and the main deity is Pithorai Mata.