MARGAO
Strongly batting for the inclusion of Dhangar community into the Scheduled tribe category, Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has promised to once again lead a delegation to Union Home Minister with the plea to accord ST status for the Dhangars.
Asked to comment on the agitation launched by the Dhangar samaj to demand ST status, Tawadkar said, “The Dhangars are our brothers. The Dhangars along with Gawda, Velip and Kunbi communities had fought for ST status under the banner of GAKUVED. Unfortunately, while the Velips, Kunbis and Gawdas got the ST status, Dhangars were unfortunately left out”.
The Tribal Welfare Minister has asserted that the Dhangar samaj deserve the ST status considering their prevailing situation. “Compared to the other communities, the situation of Dhangar samaj is bad. I am strongly in favour of granting ST status for the Dhangars. The Chief Minister too is in favour”, he said, adding that the Chief Minister has given him the assurance that he would lead a delegation to Union Home Ministry Amit Shah to resolve the issue.
