into force from February, 2011. The overseas Indians can now furnish the documents self-
      attested by them and get their name enrolled in the electoral roll of their respective constituency.
      Reservation of Seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
            Our Constitution makers were fully conscious of the fact that the Scheduled Castes and
      Scheduled Tribes had been an oppressed and under-privileged class in our society over the
      centuries and they deserved a special dispensation so that their condition may be vastly
      improved. For this purpose, several special provisions were incorporated in our Constitution.
      One such provision related to the reservation of seats for these communities in Lok Sabha and
      state legislative assemblies. This provision found place in Articles 330 and 332 of the
      Constitution. Similarly, they were also sensitive of the difficulties and problems which were
      likely to be faced by the persons belonging to Anglo Indian community in the country.
      Consequently, adequate safeguards were provided for them in our Constitution by giving
      representation to this small section of the society, under Article 331 of the Constitution by way
      of nomination of two persons of that community in the House of the People by the President.
            Likewise, provision for nomination of one member each by the Governor, wherever
      necessary, belonging to this community in the state legislative assemblies was also incorporated.
      Initially, the aforesaid provisions were made only for a period of ten years from the
      commencement of the Constitution. Although several steps have been initiated by the
      Government from time to time for improving the socio economic status of the Scheduled Castes
      and Scheduled Tribes, yet they are still far behind other communities. Even in the political field,
      they are not yet able to come up and get themselves elected to the representative bodies on their
      own in adequate numbers. Similarly, there are still a small section of Anglo Indians which need
      representation in the elected bodies. Consequently, the provision initially made for a period of
      ten years has been extended from time to time. Recently, through the Constitution (One Hundred
      Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009 extension of the period for a further ten years has been passed by
      both the Houses of Parliament and received the assent of the President in January, 2010. The said
      Bill was enacted as the Constitution (Ninety-fifth Amendment) Act, 2009.