The Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967. It is intended to amend the SC order to exclude Gond community as a Scheduled Caste in Chandauli, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sant Ravidas Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh and also amends the ST order to recognise the community as ST in these four districts.<br />''<br />''Replying to discussion on the Bill, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said, through this legislation the government is fulfilling the long pending demand of the community. He said, this government has taken several measures for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the country. He said, budget allocation for Scheduled Tribes Component has increased from 24 thousand crore rupees in 2013-14 to over 85 thousand crore rupees in 2021-2022. He said, steps have been taken for education and economic development of Scheduled Tribes in the country. He listed out Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana saying, it has been implemented in 35 thousand villages. The Minister accused the previous UPA government for ignoring the interest of the Scheduled Tribes in the country.<br />''<br />''<br />