SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: After the Census 2011 had revealed that the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in Goa had declined by almost two percent, the Goa State Commission for Schedule Tribe (GSCST), not agreeing with the figures is mulling a resurvey, officials said.
According to the commission the tribal population had gone up by nearly five per cent since 2004.
Though eight communities are listed in the ST list, the Census survey has revealed that only three communities – Gowda, Velip and Kunbi – are residing in Goa and that the other communities (Dhodia, Dubla/Halpati, Nayaka/Talavia, Sidd and Varli), which were mainly found in Daman and Diu were mentioned in the list before Goa became a state.
The State tribal population, which was 1.62 lakhs (12 % of the total State population) as per a survey in 2004, has gone down to 1.49 lakh (10.23%) as per Census 2011. Based on 2004 population, ST enjoys 12 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
However, the Census figures have not just shocked the tribal communities but also stunned Goa State Commission for Schedule Tribe (GSCST).
The Commission is mulling on asking for a fresh survey by a Pune-based organization, Centre of Development Planning and Research (CDPR). The same organization has recently conducted a survey of other backward class (OBC) community in Goa that showed rise in population from 19.5 per cent to 26.26 per cent.
“The census figures have shocked us. There have been deaths and births in the community but we don’t feel that death ratio was high compare to birth,” Commission chairman Anant Shirvoikar told Herald, adding that the commission would be soon moving a proposal for fresh survey of tribal population before the State Tribal department.
A senior official confirmed that the Commission is of the view that ST population in the state saw increasing trend by nearly three to four percent in last six years, 2004-2011and further by another one percent till 2013. “Complaints of being not registered by the block development officer (BOD) in Census population list were brought to commission notice. There were several such complaints,” officer said adding ‘even the Commission Chairman name was not included initially’.
Hence, there is urgent need to have a re-look at this community population, the officer said. Tribal Community under United Tribal Association Alliance (UTTA) has been demanding re-survey and increase in reservation from existing 12 per cent to 17 per cent.
The Census 2011 has put ST population at 149275 (males – 72948 and females – 76327) with largest concentration of the ST population is in Salcete taluka that has, 33,975 ST living in it followed by Quepem with 25,444 people. The sex ratio in the ST community is much better at 1000: 1046.
