MARGAO
The GAKUVED Federation, Goa, an association of various tribal organisations, on Wednesday said the Census Commission of India’s announcement of a pause in the process of redrawing electoral boundaries until March 2027 will not in any way impact the implementation of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly in the 2027 polls.
GAKUVED president Govind Shirodkar and legal advisor Ravindra Velip told the media that the announcement by the Delimitation Commission will in no way affect the implementation of political reservations for the ST communities.
Fielding questions from the media at a briefing held to announce the two-day 10th National Convention on the occasion of International Tribal Rights Day at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim on September 12-13, the duo said there is misinterpretation of the announcement of the Delimitation Commission.
Ravindra Velip said the law passed by Parliament on the implementation of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes for Goa is very clear that the Election Commission has been given the power to identify and notify the four Assembly constituencies for political reservations for the ST community.
“While doing so, the Election Commission will take into account the 2001 Census and not the 2011 or the census that will take place in the future. The Act has been enacted on the lines of the benefit given to the ST community in Uttar Pradesh. There is some misinterpretation on the issue and we will dispel the misunderstanding in the coming days,” he said.
He added: “What the Delimitation Commission will do is the delimitation of the boundaries of constituencies. Here, the Act passed by Parliament will not change any boundaries of constituencies, but will identify and notify the four constituencies which have the ST population for political reservations,” he added.
Meanwhile, the GAKUVED Federation, Goa in association with Adivasi Samanvay Manch Bharat and the Directorate of Art and Culture will organise the two-day 10th National Convention at the Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim from Thursday.
The two-day convention will see the participation of around 2,500 delegates from outside Goa and will deliberate on the nature, challenges and solutions for tribal communities.
The convention will issue the Goa Declaration on the concluding day on Friday.
