PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today assured the House that the State government has set a target of December 19, 2025, to issue the maximum number of Sanads under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and clear all remaining 6,906 pending claims by March 31, 2026.
Sawant's assurance came after the issue was raised in the House by the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, who urged the government to expedite the process and deliver long-overdue justice to tribal communities in Goa.
“Only 2,398 claims have been approved so far. 6,906 still remain pending, and 1,039 applications have been rejected. This is an injustice to the community,” Alemao stated.
He came down heavily on the reasons given for the delay in processing the claims, calling them a “bureaucratic farce.” “Excuses such as monsoons, wild bushes, and leeches are unacceptable and only delay justice. The process must be restructured and accelerated,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to tribal welfare and clarified that steps are being taken to streamline the process.
He said that of the over 10,000 applications received under the Forest Rights Act, nearly 3,000 tribal claimants have already been granted Sanads. The remaining claims, he said, would be addressed in a time-bound manner.
"Under the Forest Rights Act, our aim is to ensure justice for all eligible tribal communities. We have set a clear deadline and instructed authorities to ensure pending claims are processed without further delay,” Sawant said.
Alemao also criticised the lack of progress in securing political reservation for Scheduled Tribes, saying the matter continues to be passed between the State and the Centre without serious political will. “Even under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan, Rs 12 crore was allocated, but not a single rupee was spent. This shows a lack of commitment,” he said.
In response, the Chief Minister alleged that the Congress party disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings on two occasions when the Central government attempted to table the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024. The remark drew a strong objection from the LoP.
Sawant further added that the Ministry has already been requested to pass the Bill at the earliest and assured the House that the government is pursuing the matter with seriousness.
