Tribal body urges BJP to expedite ST reservation bill before ’27 polls

Margao: A delegation of the United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) met BJP state president Damodar Naik on Wednesday, urging the party to expedite legislation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) political reservation ahead of the 2027 Goa assembly elections.

The bill, titled “The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa, 2024,” was introduced in the Lok Sabha in Aug 2024 by minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Despite being listed for discussion in the Dec session, it remains pending.

The UTAA reminded BJP leaders that the Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip communities, who were granted tribal status in 2003, have faced four elections without their constitutional right to political reservation in the Goa assembly.

“The bill was introduced in Aug and discussed in Nov 2024 but was not passed. State and central leaders assured us it would be passed in the budget session, which too concluded without action,” said UTAA president Prakash Velip.

The bill would empower the Election Commission to amend the 2008 delimitation order to ensure ST representation under Article 332. Chief minister Pramod Sawant committed to ensuring ST reservation by the 2027 polls.

UTAA said this legislation's implementation is important to ensure political representation for marginalised communities before the next assembly elections.