Daijiworld Media Network - Margao
Margao, Oct 28: The United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) has called a meeting in Margao on October 31 to decide its future course of action if Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are denied political reservation in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
UTAA leader Adv John Fernandes warned that the tribal community would not remain silent if political reservations were denied, describing such a move as “seat chori”.
Addressing the media, UTAA chief Prakash Velip said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant could not abdicate his responsibility to follow up with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on implementing political reservations.
Velip said the Chief Minister had recently stated that the government had completed its role and that the matter was now with the ECI. However, he insisted that the government must pursue the issue with the Commission, adding that ECI officials had indicated that reservations could be implemented if the government demonstrated the necessary will.
He also alleged that the government had not provided certain information required by the ECI and expressed hope that political reservations would be implemented within the next month.
UTAA has appealed to ST leaders, including panchas, sarpanchas, municipal councillors, MLAs and active members of the alliance across Goa, to attend the October 31 meeting. Velip said the convention would be the last gathering before UTAA leaders and workers begin a statewide awareness campaign highlighting what they consider an injustice to the community.
Fernandes urged the government not to deprive ST communities of reserved seats by delaying the process, asserting that political reservation was a constitutional right.
In a separate demand, UTAA has urged the Goa government to stop organising programmes such as Prerna Diwas and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas through event management agencies, arguing that tribal welfare funds should instead be used to improve the lives of disadvantaged community members.
Velip questioned the reported expenditure of Rs 4.41 crore on Prerna Diwas, held at Ambaulim to commemorate the death anniversaries of tribal youths Dilip Velip and Manguesh Gaonkar. He said UTAA had been observing the programme since 2012 using its own funds.
He also objected to the government's reported plan to spend Rs 8 crore on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on November 15, commemorating tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
While acknowledging the importance of remembering Birsa Munda's contribution, Velip said the Tribal Welfare Department should direct funds under the tribal sub-plan towards the upliftment of poor and needy members of tribal communities.