MARGAO
Leaders of the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) on Thursday took the platform of the 122nd death anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda to demand the Tribal Welfare Ministry be given to tribal leader and Art & Culture Minister Govind Gaude.
Gaude, however, said the allocation of portfolios to the Cabinet colleagues rests with the Chief Minister. He, however, shared the views of UTAA leaders that the Tribal Welfare Department should be given to a person who was part of the UTAA movement, which resulted in the creation of the Tribal Welfare Department and the ST Commission.
UTAA chief Prakash Velip also supported the views expressed by UTAA leaders that the tribal welfare portfolio should be given to Gaude, saying only a person, who was part of the ST movement, resulting in the creation of the Tribal Welfare Department and the ST Corporation, is aware of the issues plaguing the ST community. “I have the right to support that the Tribal Welfare Department be given to Govind Gaude. The Tribal Welfare Department and the ST Commission are fruits of the UTAA agitation. We are a witness to the movement,” Prakash told the media.
He added, “We want a person to head the Tribal Welfare Department who is accessible to the common man. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is presently presiding over the portfolio, but he is preoccupied with a host of departments and issues concerning Goa. With due respect to the Chief Minister, I strongly feel that the Tribal Welfare Department should go to Govind Gaude to carry forward the work carried out by him in the Tribal Welfare Department in the last five years,” he said.
On political reservations, the Chief Minister further said that the Chief Minister should take up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of political reservations for the ST community in Goa.
Gaude later told the media after the programme the question of allocation of portfolios rests with the Chief Minister. He, however, made it clear that he has come from the UTAA movement, and has also headed the Tribal Welfare Department in the last five years.
When asked whether there’s political differences amongst the tribal leaders, which has forced the Chief Minister to keep the Tribal Welfare Department with him, Gaude said he has no idea if someone is behind the move to deny the Tribal Welfare Department to him. “There may be someone with the crab mentality, but I am transparent. Those who cannot face may be trying to pull my legs,” he said.
