Tribal converts will forfeit benefits: Ramanlal Patkar

GANDHINAGAR: The minister of state for forests and tribal development, Ramanlal Patkar, courted controversy by saying that according to an amendment to the law, “Hindu tribals who convert to another religion will not be able to claim benefits of any of the 200-odd welfare schemes of the state government”.


A video of Patkar telling fellow tribals this is doing the rounds on social media. When contacted, Patkar said: “...By the new amendment, for the protection of tribal rights... The act was passed by the state assembly recently.... Under the new law, non-tribals cannot claims rights as tribals under various government schemes. If they are Christian and following the Christian religion there is nothing wrong in that but one cannot claim to be a tribal and follow Christianity. Our effort is to prevent conversions by missionaries in the name of curing their diseases.”

“Recently, at a gathering of the tribal Halpati community, I warned them to stay away from such activity as it’s illegal now. As a tribal leader, it’s my responsibility to prevent such deaths of tribals in the name of conversion. Under the new law, we have made rules that deputy collectors will issue certificates to tribals only if they are following

Hindu

tribal practices, which they are following for ages. If they have converted, they will not get benefits of any of the 211 schemes. Under the new rules, deputy collectors have to scrutinize.”

The statement raised eyebrows of not just activists but also of Patkar's senior, cabinet minister for forests and tribal development, Ganpat Vasava.

“The Constitution allows tribals to follow any religion. They can not be denied any rights under any law. He (Patkar) seems to have some misunderstanding. The state government has not made any such law. The tribal certificate verification law is only to prevent misuse of tribal certificates by non-tribals to get government jobs.”

Ganesh Devy, an expert on tribal cultural heritage and linguist said, “Tribals are protected under our Constitution as an ethnic minority and not as a religious minority. The minister should understand that even if a tribal changes his religion 10 times over, it will not change his ethnicity.”

Retired forest officer and tribal activist

Arun Chaudhary

said: “Tribal status has nothing to do with his/her religion. Following any of the religions does not affect the status of a tribe. Tribals existed on this land much before the present religions came into existence. The minister’s statement about amending the provisions for extending benefits to them appears to be out of desperation, because people have started questioning them lately.”