Tribal communities not opposed to UCC, need to study impact on custom: Arvind Netam

Discussions on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) are heating up nationwide, with opinions varying from state to state and community to community. The UCC, a common law pertaining to personal matters such as birth, marriage, and property rights, is seeing both support and opposition.
Chhattisgarh Sarva Adivasi Samaj (CSAS), the umbrella organisation for tribal groups in Chhattisgarh, expressed concerns about the UCC’s impact on tribal communities. Arvind Netam, CSAS president and former Union minister, conveyed the group’s position at a press conference. He said the tribal communities were not opposed to a common civil law but urged the Central government to be cautious. He highlighted the UCC’s potential threat to the existence of tribal communities, who are governed by their unique customary laws, a key part of their identity.
Netam also argued that the UCC might affect centuries-old customs and traditions of tribal societies, thereby posing a risk to their identity. He advised the Centre to hold discussions with tribal groups before implementing the UCC. The CSAS is actively engaging with tribal groups across central India to collectively voice their concerns.
In contrast, Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed confidence in the UCC’s imminent implementation in his state. Although he didn’t directly confirm if the UCC was discussed during the meeting, he stated that the Prime Minister was well-informed about the UCC provisions. Dhami assured that the UCC will be implemented without any unnecessary delays or shortcomings and added that various tribal groups in Uttarakhand have been consulted.
UCC implementation had been a key promise in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 2022 assembly election manifesto. The Prime Minister, in a recent address, reinforced his support for the UCC, condemning dual laws governing personal matters and criticising the Opposition for using the issue to mislead the Muslim community.
Adding to the national discourse, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Guwahati endorsed the UCC, asserting that it was time for the country to fulfil the vision of the Constitution’s founding fathers. He cited Article 44, which encourages the state to secure a UCC for its citizens, and insisted there should be no further delay in its implementation.