Rajasthan To Table Uniform Civil Code Bill, Tribal Identity Debate

There is a plan in India for something called a Uniform Civil Code — a single set of rules about marriage, divorce and inheritance for everyone.

The state of Rajasthan wants to make this law for its people.

But tribal communities in Rajasthan live by their own old traditions and customs.

So the government says the new law will not apply to them.

Many tribal leaders are happy about this, but some say the government is still being unfair.

They worry that some tribal people — those recorded as nature worshippers or Aadi Dharma followers — could still be covered by the new law.

Other tribal people, like those recorded as Hindu, would not be covered.

The tribal leaders say this creates a divide within their community.

They want their own traditions and beliefs to be protected completely.

The argument is also about politics, because tribal voters are becoming very important in elections.