MARGAO
The Scheduled Tribes (ST) community in Goa has welcomed the passage of a Bill in the Rajya Sabha to provide political reservation for STs in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Bill, earlier passed in the Lok Sabha, has been described by tribal leaders as a long-overdue victory for the community.
ST leader Anthony Barbosa expressed his gratitude to the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J P Nadda, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP Goa President Damu Naik, along with other leaders, for their support in making the long-pending demand a reality.
“This is a historic moment for the ST community in Goa. We have waited for decades for rightful representation. This Bill delivers justice to our people,” said Barbosa.
He further said that the Bill was the result of years of tireless campaigning. “From filing petitions to peaceful protests, the tribal community has done everything possible to highlight this issue. Today, we feel heard and acknowledged at the highest level,” Barbosa said.
Prabhakar Gaonkar, another ST leader, said the Bill marks a turning point in Goa’s political landscape. “This is not just about reservation. It’s about dignity, recognition, and our right to have a voice in the State’s decision-making process. For far too long, we have remained politically invisible despite being a constitutional tribe,” Gaonkar stated.
