BJP assures ethnic minority 'Hatti Community' of including as Scheduled Tribes

Shimla, Aug 23: Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda recently assured that the Centre is considering for inclusion of the Hatti community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state and a decision would soon be taken over this.

 

 

 

Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda said, "Several years have passed but no one took initiative to grant ST status to Hatti community but our government is considering for inclusion of the Hatti community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state and a decision would soon be taken over this."

 

 

 

 

 

The Hatti community has been making the demand since 1967, when tribal status was accorded to people living in the Jaunsar Bawar area of Uttarakhand, which shares a border with Sirmaur district. The Hattis are a close-knit community who got their name from their tradition of selling homegrown vegetables, crops, meat and wool etc. at small markets called ‘haat’ in towns.

 

 The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which like the khaps of Haryana, decide community matters. The Khumbli’s power has remained unchallenged despite the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System. Their demand for tribal status gained strength because of resolutions passed at various maha Khumblis over the years.