PANJIM: Seven years after two Scheduled Tribe (ST) youth lost their lives while agitating for the welfare of their communities, tribal leaders feel that most of their demands, with the exception of three crucial ones, have been fulfilled. The ST population in the State comprises of 10.2 per cent of the total.
Department of Tribal Welfare and United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) observe May 25 as Prerana Din to pay tribute to the two youth – Mangesh Gaonkar and Delip Velip – who lost their lives in an agitation on May 25, 2011.
On the eve of the day, UTAA President Prakash Shankar Velip said, “This government is committed towards fulfilling the demands of the tribals in Goa. Our efforts and hard work are finally paying off. Our coming generation will have a secured future.”
That opinion may not be fully endorsed by all tribal leaders. Prakash Arjun Velip, another ST leader said that every year utilisation of funds under the tribal sub plan is not happening.
“There are several tribal villages waiting for development. There are many villages still facing drinking water shortage, there are many such issues which can be solved using funds under the tribal sub plan but it is still not happening,” he said.
He said that the government in Goa and at the Centre should address this issue on priority.
In defence, Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude said that for the last one year he has been pursuing with the Centre the three remaining demands, including 12 percent reservation in the State Assembly, declaration of schedule areas and formation of tribes advisory council.
“I am continuously following with the Union ministry, Election Commission and Delimitation Commission to get reservation in the Assembly, while the other demands have been placed before the appropriate authority and I will be monitor them,” Gaude said.
He demanded that Parliament should discuss reservations and resolve the same. He further said that the schedule areas demand is pending as the minimum population cluster in Goa is far less than what is required.
He said that the demand has already been made with the Union ministry to reduce the population cluster to 2000 instead of 4000. The Tribal Advisory Council is almost complete but it is pending in the absence of the Chief Minister due to his illness, the Minister said.
