Submits detailed memorandum to NCST chief
The UTAA delegation led by president Prakash Velip with Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Antar Singh Arya on Wednesday.
MARGAO
The United Tribal Association’s Alliance (UTAA) has made a strong pitch for political reservations for the Scheduled Tribe Communities in the Goa Legislative Assembly before 2027 General Elections.
An UTAA delegation led by UTAA Chief and former minister Prakash Velip called on the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Antar Singh Arya and submitted a detailed memorandum on a host of issues including political reservations for the STs in Goa.
A delegation of the BJP ST Morcha comprising of president Prabhakar Gaonkar, vice-president Anthony Barbosa also held discussions with Antar Singh Arya on political reservations.
In the memorandum, UTAA drew attention of the Chairperson of the National panel of ST that the
Government of India has introduced the Bill granting ST communities 10 per cent reservation in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The delegation said the same Bill shall be passed in the Lok Sabha, and ensure passage of the Bill in Parliament. “ With all the necessities, the Government of India and the Government of Goa shall provide the political reservation for the ST community, which will be implemented before the 2027 general elections in Goa”, the memorandum stated.
UTAA has objected to any Subdivision or Sub-categorization within Schedule Tribe Communities in Goa, with the memorandum stating that ST communities stand united, representing the struggle for social justice in the country and the State. “UTAA, in one voice, condemns any efforts to create sub-division within a community by any judicial mandate. The parliament is the sole competent authority to deal with matters about representation and constitutional amendments”, it added.
Saying that Census will be used to determine the Population Schedule of Tribe Communities in the State of Goa, the memorandum stated “as Tribes Scheduled in the constitution of India, ST represents peculiar social and cultural identity. To determine the exact population of the ST community. the census on the basis of the original settling population of Goa shall be carried out with the predetermined cut-off date of the settling in the State”.
The delegation also made strong demand for the effective implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 & settlements of the claims on Fast Track. “Forests are neither a matter of commerce nor leisure for the ST communities. The forest is the livelihood for the ST communities. The Government of Goa shall ensure that the Forest Rights Act of 2006 is effectively implemented in the State. The Government of Goa shall issue directives to the Department of Revenue to settle the impending claims under FRA on a fast-track basis.
The delegation also demanded declaration of scheduled Area in Goa, saying “In Goa as per constitution of India every state has to declare Scheduled Area as per the population of Panchayat. So far in Goa this type of Scheduled Area has not been declared.”
