PANAJI
There is a strong demand to include the Dhangar community in the ST category. Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude said that he is concerned with the demand and making all efforts to give the Dhangar community ST status.
Minister Gaude said that the Dhangar community needs reservation and other social upliftment support more than the Gauda, Kunbi and Velip community.
The Minister said that after the Gauda, Kunbi and Velip community organization 'Gakuved' put concerted efforts, the government included these communities into the ST category. However, due to some confusion between Dhangar and Gawali community, Dhangar was not given ST status.
"If Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar pursue this demand with the Central Home Minister then the Dhangar community will be included in the ST category," added Minister Gaude.
Social activist Rajendra Kerkar, however, has expressed his strong views that the state government through and special ordinance can and should include the Dhangar community (animal rearing community) in the ST category.
Stating that the population of the Dhangar community is around 10,000 in the state Kerkar demanded that this community should be given status as the animal rearing community.
The Dhangar community has been struggling for the last many years for the ST status. However, the demand has not been met yet.
Kerkar said that if the Goa government takes an initiative and includes Dhangar in the ST category then other states will also have to consider including the community in the ST category.
Presently the Dhangar community is included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. The Dhangar community is presently facing several social and financial issues. The government has to consider this and include the community in the ST category from OBC, added Kerkar.
The Maharashtra government has already given Dhangar community an ST status. Like Maharastra, the Goa government can also bring in the special ordinance to include the Dhangar community into the ST class. “Presently the Dhangar community is drifting away from the main society. The government has to take steps to bring this community into the social mainstream,” said Kerkar.
