Chandigarh: Ahead of elections later this year in Himachal Pradesh, the backward Hatti community has once again raised its decades-long demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, putting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – which had promised to agree to their demand almost 15 years ago – in a fix.The Hatti community – with more than three lakh members – has the potential to influence the outcome of as many as nine out of the 68 assembly constituencies in the state, mostly around the Shimla region.Elections are due in the hill state later this year in November.The community is largely concentrated in the Trans-Giri area of the Sirmaur district, considered among the most backward areas in the country. Members of the community too have settled in and around Shimla as well as the Solan district over time.Politically fragmented earlier, the community began leaning towards the BJP ever since it promised to grant the community ST status about 15 years ago and repeated it in their poll manifestos, including the 2017 elections as well.Perhaps as a consequence of the impact that the farmers’ protest had, the community has united under the banner of the Hatti Sangharsh Samiti as their demand remains unfulfilled to this date.Ami Chand Kamal, head of the central committee of the Hatti Sangharsh Samiti, told The Wire that traditionally, the Shimla region was a Congress citadel. “The BJP never won the Shimla parliamentary constituency before their leaders recognised our demand in their manifesto in 2009 and since then they have not looked back,” he said.“But as far as our demand is concerned, it is still pending,” said Chand. He said only assurances would not work this time as they are fed up with the long wait. “We will not sit silently in the assembly polls and influence the election if our demand is not met,” he said.He then added, “We have the sympathies of all political parties. All options are open to us if nothing concrete emerges before the election.”Perhaps sensing the community’s anxiety before the election, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur met Union home minister Amit Shah last month. Among his requests were that the Trans-Giri region is declared as a tribal area and the Hatti community is recognised as a Scheduled Tribe.Even BJP national president J.P. Nadda held a closed-door meeting with members of the community during his recent two-day visit to the state.Jai Ram Thakur (r) meets Union home minister Amit Shah. Photo: Himachal Pradesh CMOHow is ST status granted?For any community to be recognised as a Scheduled Tribe, a constitutional amendment is needed in parliament after the state government or union territory submits the case for approval to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The concurrence of the Registrar General of India is also needed.In the case of the Hatti community, the Jai Ram Thakur government has already recommended to the Union government to declare them as an ST community, where the matter is currently pending.Ami Chand Kamal said that the file is with the tribal ministry. Besides, the Registrar General of India has also raised some objections to the proposal sent by the Himachal government in September last year.“We hope that the matter sails through these technical hurdles and it reaches finality soon,” he said.BJP’s co-in charge of Himachal, Sanjay Tandon, told The Wire that the party is fully aware of the matter and is taking necessary steps in ensuring justice for the community.One region, different treatment As per the state government’s report, the Hattis are mainly concentrated in the Trans-Giri area and Jaunsar Bawar area, which was part of the erstwhile Sirmaur princely state.Kundan Shashtri, another leader representing the Hatti community, told The Wire that the Jaunsar Bawar area separated from the Sirmaur princely state before independence and later became part of Uttrakhand It was declared a tribal area in 1967. “But people on our side are bereft of it for so many years,” he said.Shashtri said this matter is not only linked to their community’s economic survival but is vital for the protection of their culture and social identity.“Granting the ST status would ensure that our people come into the mainstream and ensure a special budget for the area’s overall development,” he said.Members of the Hatti community participate in a dance. Photo: By arrangementAs per the government’s report, due to the isolation of their area, people living in Trans-Giri are dependent on animal rearing and agriculture. They herd goats and sheep in large numbers for wool and meat.The matrimonial alliances within the Hatti community are made with their counterparts in the Jaunsar Bawar area.Not many inhabitants of this region – especially the Kamrau, Sangrah and Shilliai areas – have sought mainstream employment or education. Inter-caste marriage, the report says, is still considered a grave offence within the community. The caste system within the Hatti community places the Bhat and Khash groups as upper castes while Badhois are the middle caste group.The entire Hatti region, said the government report, is still governed by its traditional council which is locally called Khumbli and deals with all kinds of disputes within the community. Despite the establishment of the panchayat raj system, the Khumbli has maintained its power and position at the village level.In fact, Khumblis were the main source of mobilising the community behind their latest demand for ST status.Several media reports revealed that thousands of people from Shillai, Sri Renukaji, Pachhad and Paonta Sahib assembly constituencies of the Simaur district have been frequently participating in the village Khumblis. This is how they managed to attract the attention of political leaders across the party for their demand for ST status.Also Read: Interview | As AAP Sets Sights on Himachal Polls, New State In-Charge Feels ‘Change’ is NearMaha Khumbli to raise the pitchAmi Chand informed The Wire that the community is organising a Maha Khumbli on April 17 in Sangrah village (Sirmaur district) in order to further mobilise the members of the community. During this occasion, the community will showcase its culture and traditions.“We believe that the community has done an excellent job in preserving our age-old traditions. But to pressure it, it is important that the centre recognises our separate identity as a tribal community. Otherwise, it will not be long before our culture is on the verge of extinction amid the onslaught of modernity and globalisation,” he added. He said that they expect a gathering of more than 20,000 people.“We have invited members of all political parties to witness our unique culture. Hopefully, they all understand the urgency of our demand,” he said.
