SANGUEM
A strong sentiment of support for the United Tribal Associations’ Alliance (UTAA) and its leader, Prakash Velip, resonates among the tribal community in the remote Sanguem region.
When contacted, many villagers claimed that Velip has been at the forefront of significant upliftment and betterment of the tribal communities since the inception of UTAA.
Tribal leader Adv. Anand Gaonkar from Rivona highlighted the tireless and selfless work of UTAA and its leaders, which has streamlined access to tribal-related initiatives and various government schemes, ensuring the community benefits.
Gaonkar, however, expressed concerns over the recent ban imposed by the Inspector General of Societies on the operations of UTAA and Goud Maratha Samaj, stating it has severely hampered the organisation's work.
“This ban,” he emphasised, “particularly affects the poor and student community who are now unable to obtain essential 'Samaj certificates' required to avail scheme benefits, leading to a standstill in public work without valid reason.”
Gaonkar has appealed to the government for a swift revocation of the ban to enable the Samaj to issue these crucial certificates, ensuring tribal members can access government schemes.
Gaonkar further added that the BJP (ST) members who are targeting Prakash Velip are trying to improve their image before the party to get political mileage for self-gains and not for the benefit of the ST community.
“Instead of blaming Prakash Velip, they should come out in the open and highlight the work they have done for the ST community,” said Gaonkar.
Voices of dissent
The villagers in many parts of Sanguem have unanimously reaffirmed their unwavering support for UTAA, recognising it as the sole entity capable of amplifying their voices, while addressing and resolving their concerns.
On the other hand, there have been voices of dissent, especially within the BJP camp, against UTAA leader Prakash Velip for his remarks against the government.
Local leaders like Zilla Panchayat member Suresh Kepekar have called upon the government to resolve the ongoing dispute among tribal leaders.
Kepekar criticised Prakash Velip and his team for their remarks against the government, asserting that such statements were irrelevant given the BJP government's consistent support for tribal communities.
Rajesh Gaonkar, another BJP leader from Sanguem, echoed this sentiment and claimed that Velip's "surgical comments" against BJP leaders were adverse and unacceptable, especially considering Velip's past pivotal positions within the BJP cadre and the party's consistent advocacy for tribal communities.
Despite these political critiques, tribal villagers in the remote parts of Sanguem in general remain firmly with UTAA and largely support Prakash Velip, reaffirming their commitment to stand with the organisation at all times.
