MARGAO
The Mission Political Reservations for the Scheduled Tribes received a boost to their ongoing movement for reservations of seats for the ST community in the Goa Legislative Assembly with the All India Adivasi Ekta Parishad deciding to back the movement to realise the demands for political reservations.
In fact, Parishad’s Secretary Ashok Chaudhary has said the organisation will take up cudgels for the ST community demanding political reservations with the State government as well as with the Centre.
The Adivasi Ekta Parishad’s decision to back the demand for political reservations assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the decision by the Mission Political Reservations to take a peaceful morcha to the Goa Legislative Assembly in the ensuing session.
Parishad Secretary Ashok Chaudhary told the media that the Indian Constitution has provided political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes, adding that the same needs to be implemented in both letter and spirit. “The Mission Political Reservations for the Scheduled Tribes has handed a memorandum to the Parishad to take up the cause of political reservations for the ST community in Goa. The Parishad will take up the matter with the Goa government as well as with the Centre to press for the reservations of seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly,” Chaudhary said.
President of Mission Political Reservations for Scheduled Tribes, Adv John Fernandes said the Adivasi Ekta Parishad delegation is in Goa to back and support the just and genuine cause of the scheduled tribes demanding political reservations.
Spokesperson Govind Shirodkar said the Mission Political Reservations is gearing up for the proposed morcha to the Goa Legislative Assembly in the ensuing session.
In the memorandum submitted by the Mission has sought support from the Adivasi Ekta Parishad to get the political reservation for scheduled tribes of Goa as enshrined under Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution.
“Reservation of seats under Article 330 and Article 332 is important to address the long pending issues like protection of tribal lands to declare fifth Schedule Areas, implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, protection of water bodies (Jal, Jangal Jameen), utilisation of TSP funds, reservation of seats in the employment and education, filling of backlog vacancies, formation of Tribes Advisory Council, to safeguard ST community from atrocities, to protect our rich heritage and culture, overall development of ST community of Goa and to represent the ST community in Goa Assembly,” the memorandum stated.
The Mission, however, lamented that even after 20 years, the ST community has been deprived of the political reservation in Goa.
