We will secure ST reservation before 2027 election: CM

Margao: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday pledged to secure political reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the state legislature ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.Sawant made the commitment while addressing a gathering of tribals at the ‘Prerana Din’ function in Quepem, organised in memory of Dilip Velip and Mangesh Gaonkar, who laid down their lives during the 2011 tribal agitation at Balli.The chief minister’s assurance comes weeks after ‘Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa’ issued a 15-day ultimatum to state govt in early April, demanding it coordinate with Centre to notify the appointed date for the commencement of ‘The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025’.The legislation,which received presidential assent and was published in the gazette over six months ago, can come into force only after central govt issues a separate notification specifying the date.On the long-delayed Tribal Bhavan, Sawant said govt is committed to resolving the issues that have delayed the project such as land disputes and pending litigation cases across multiple courts. The project received administrative approval in Oct 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 87.5 crore and has seen its revised price tag climb to Rs 97 crore.Sawant reiterated govt’s resolve to issue sanads under the Forest Rights Act to eligible tribal families. Out of 10,000 applications,1,000 sanads have been issued.