ST community gives govt 2 days for quota formalities

Panaji: Goa’s tribal community leaders are upset with the lack of initiative shown by state govt in completing the process to demarcate constituencies for the Scheduled Tribes community in Goa before the assembly elections. The Mission Political Reservation for ST of Goa, which has been waging a three-year fight for political reservation, has given govt a two-day ultimatum to complete the formalities for reservation in the state assembly under Article 332 of the Constitution of India.

The leaders of the movement accused BJP-led govt and chief minister Pramod Sawant of taking tribals for granted. “The tribal minister keeps saying that he is trying, but we need something concrete from him and govt. They will push this beyond 2027. This is injustice. They think we are voiceless and powerless,” said Joao Fernandes, president of Mission Political Reservation for ST of Goa.

Members of the ST community from various parts of Goa gathered outside the tribal department office to seek clarity about political reservation for STs.

Tribal welfare director Nilesh Dhaigodkar said that the process to grant reservation for the ST community in the assembly election is under process. While the tribal leaders have threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met in two days, they did not divulge their long-term plans for the assembly elections.

“What is left is for govt to issue a notification authorising the Election Commission of India to demarcate constituencies for the ST community. They have now come up with the all-India delimitation, and they are using this to hang the delay around our neck. The efforts are now stuck. That is why we are giving them a two-day ultimatum,” said tribal leader Govind Shirodkar.

Mission Political Reservation members said the agitation will continue outside the department until the final notification is issued.