PANJIM: Condemning Calangute MLA Michael Lobo’s assurance to give ST status to the Banjara Samaj in Goa, the Federation of GAKUVED on Wednesday threatened to protest if such a proposal is moved. The federation also demanded the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the ST category.
Addressing the media, GAKUVED general secretary Rupesh Velip said, “Banjara Samaj are not original Goans .They are migrants from Karnataka, Rajasthan and other States. The Gawada, Kunbi, Velip got ST status in 2003 only after a detailed study on their history culture, tradition, socio-economic status, food habits by Central and State governments. Even legally it is not permissible to give ST status to Banjaras in Goa.”
He added, “Lobo is trying to fool the Banjara community with such immature statements. The Federation of GAKUVED condemns the statement and demands Lobo stop doing vote bank politics.”
He said the federation was formed by members of Gawada, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangars of Goa which are indigenous communities of Goa. “Lobo and present government seems to be more interested in providing Banjara samaj with ST status than the Dhangar community who are settled in Goa since centuries. Government cannot protect Goan communities and giving rights to outside communities is highly objectionable,” Velip said. He said that Banjaras and other communities from outside the State are getting government jobs in departments such as Police, PWD, Collectorate and claimed there are many well educated youths from Dhangars communities who are without jobs.
The federation said it will oppose any steps to include the Banjara samaj in ST/SC category. “If any development happens further in this regards the federation will have a huge protest all over Goa,” Velip said.
