Team Herald
PANJIM: The United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) has urged Parliament to pass the pending Bill that seeks to provide political reservation for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
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The Bill, introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in the Lok Sabha on August 5, 2024, aims to reserve seats for the ST community in the State Assembly.
Addressing a press conference, UTAA President Prakash S Velip recalled that when a delegation from Goa had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they were assured that a Bill to ensure political reservation would be introduced.
“The Bill was introduced in August and came up for discussion in November but could not be passed. With the ongoing budget session, we demand that the Bill be passed and the process for providing political reservation be expedited,” Velip said.
Velip expressed hope that the Bill would reserve at least four seats for the ST community before the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
He acknowledged that while various organisations may have differing views, they share a common goal — securing political reservation for Goa’s ST community.
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024 empowers the Census Commissioner to “ascertain or estimate” Goa’s ST population and notify the same. The Bill also enables the Election Commission to readjust Assembly seats and reserve seats for STs accordingly.
The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal to introduce the Bill in March 2024. The Bill, titled the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on August 5, 2024.
The Bill aims to empower the Census Commissioner to “ascertain or estimate” the population of STs in Goa and subsequently notify them. It also enables the Election Commission (EC) to readjust the number of Assembly seats and reserve constituencies for STs accordingly.
Pass Ordinance to implement Bill before 2027 polls: Activists
Team Herald
MARGAO: With uncertainty surrounding the passage of the Bill in Parliament, the Mission for Political Reservation for the STs (MPRS) has urged the government to issue an Ordinance to fast-track the process of identifying and notifying constituencies reserved for STs in the state assembly.
Further delay could once again deprive ST communities of their right to reserved representation in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, said Mission president Adv John Fernandes, who, along with Joseph Vaz and other representatives, recently presented South Goa Congress MP Viriato Fernandes with a memorandum urging immediate action.
John noted that Goa’s ST communities have been waiting for over two decades, since their official recognition in 2003, to secure their rightful representation. He stressed that intervention by the South Goa MP could play a crucial role in upholding democratic rights and fulfilling constitutional obligations towards the ST communities.
Citing the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, John pointed out Goa’s unique situation, where the Scheduled Tribe population (1,49,275 as per the 2011 Census) far exceeds the Scheduled Caste population (25,449). Despite this, no seats have been reserved for STs in the Legislative Assembly. The inclusion of the Kunbi, Gawda, and Velip communities in the ST list under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders) Amendment Act, 2003, significantly raised the ST population in Goa, further justifying the need for reserved constituencies.
He argued that the prolonged delay in passing the Bill violates the constitutional rights of ST communities to fair representation in governance, as guaranteed under Article 332 of the Constitution.
The memorandum also highlighted the multi-stage process required for implementation, including approval from both Houses of Parliament, Presidential assent, and subsequent delimitation efforts by the Election Commission. Given these procedural requirements, the Mission stressed the urgency of immediate action.
The delegation urged the South Goa MP to push for the Bill’s passage in the upcoming Budget Session commencing on March 10, 2025. “We request you to raise this issue in Parliament to ensure it is given the necessary priority and expedited consideration. Should further delays persist, we call upon you to advocate for an Ordinance to initiate the identification and notification of ST-reserved constituencies in Goa’s Assembly,” the delegation stated.
