Goa’s tribal organisa tions have resolved to jointly intensify their movement for Scheduled Tribe (ST) political reservation in the Goa Legis lative Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections, with renewed unity under the banner of the United Tribals Associations Al liance (UTAA). The decision was taken after the UTAA successfully resolved an internal dispute between its former execu tive committee and the com plainant associations through mutual understanding and consensus. Leaders described the reconciliation as a signif icant step towards strength ening the alliance and safeguarding the collective in terests of Goa’s Scheduled Tribe community.
The Alliance unanimous ly resolved that the move ment for political reservation for Scheduled Tribes would henceforth be pursued jointly under the UTAA banner. It also reaffirmed its commitment to continue coordinated fol low-up with the government for the implementation of the Goa Political Reservation Act, 2025, with the demand that political reservation be implemented on the basis of the 2011 Census before the 2027 Assembly elections. To ensure the smooth func tioning of the organisation until a duly-elected Executive Committee is constituted in accordance with its bye-laws, the UTAA appointed an Inter im Working Committee. Former minister Prakash Shankar Velip was re-elected as President. The other of fice-bearers include Govind Shirodkar and Adv Joao (John) Fernandes as Vice-Presidents, Vishwas Gaude as Secretary, Shrikant Gaonkar as Joint Secretary, Ravindra Velip as Convenor and Namdev Fa tarpekar as co-convenor.
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All four sitting MLAs belonging to the ST community—Ramesh Tawadkar, Ganesh Gaonkar, Govind Gaude and Anton Vas—and former Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar were elected as advisors. The remaining committee members will be appoint ed shortly. Addressing a press conference at Utorda, Tribal Af fairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said the government remained committed to the welfare of the Scheduled Tribe community and would continue efforts to secure political reservation. “It is my duty to ensure the overall development of people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community. We will continue our efforts to ensure reservation in the State Assembly. We have resolved to remain united,” Tawadkar said. UTAA President Prakash Velip reiterated that polit ical reservation remained the community’s foremost demand. “We have been raising this issue since 2003. Several elections have taken place since then, but our demand remains the same. Before the 2027 elections, political reservation should become a reality.
Goa is the only State where there is no political reservation for Sched uled Tribes,” Velip said. Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar expressed confidence that the long-pending demand would eventually be fulfilled. “The demand for ST political reservation will suc ceed, and we will continue to pursue it,” Gaonkar said. Vice-President Govind Shirodkar stressed that the ST community now stood united and warned the govern ment against further delays. “Today it is clear that there is no division among the Scheduled Tribe community. We assure our people that we will not let them down. The government should not test our patience. It has already been 10 years, and we are still waiting for the notification. I do not know what politics is being played. If this continues, we will not re main silent,” Shirodkar said.
He also urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to avoid further postponements. “I request the Chief Minister not to keep giving new dates. Once the election schedule is announced, the gov ernment will cite the Model Code of Conduct as a reason for inaction. The notification must be issued well before that,” he added. Recalling the violent Balli agitation wherein two youth were killed in 2011, Adv John Fernandes said, “We will not issue any further ultimatum or deadline to the government. The government should not take us for granted and should not force us to start an ag itation.” He said, “We are demanding our rights and not seek ing any favours. The Union Home Minister had assured the Chief Minister to resolve the issue within 15 days, but it’s now nearly a month and there is no decision from the government.” Representatives of all eight ST organisations attend ed the meeting, setting aside their differences. The unified stand by Goa’s tribal organisations is ex pected to strengthen the campaign for political reser vation, making it a key issue in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections.
