The Scheduled Tribes community, for the first time, led by the younger generation has become very assertive about proper representation to them at the ensuing elections on February 4 as demonstrated by the spontaneous outbursts against perceived injustice to representatives of their community and ST candidates filing their nominations as independents.
While STs decide the winning candidates in six assembly constituencies, a sizeable electorate of this community is found in another 18 constituencies. The six constituencies where ST decides the winning candidate are: Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona, Priol, Nuvem and Velim.
However, what has led to the present change with the Scheduled Tribes demanding proper representation etc., is primarily because the youth are now itching to take charge of the community and consider their hitherto leaders to have lost touch with them.
Erstwhile leaders of the community like Prakash Velip and Pandurang Madkaikar who are nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Chandrakant Kavlekar who is nominated by the Congress, are no longer considered true representatives of the ST community as they form the creamier section that has alienated itself from the community.
The ST community considers both Pandurang Madkaikar and Chandrakant Kavlekar as rank opportunists who are only out to feather their own nests. While Madkaikar has joined the BJP ditching the Congress, Kavlekar was also all set to do the same till the time Congress also offered his wife a ticket, argued a group of youngsters from Quepem.
No doubt Prakash Velip’s contribution to the upliftment of the community is acknowledged, however, he is said to have lost touch with the young generation that is educated and economically independent and as such has different aspirations and desires.
The youth are of the opinion that the earlier leaders had a subservient attitude and would bow down to others as they were brought up that way. However, the present lot being educated is not only aware of their rights but also of their potential and is now flexing their muscles.
The angst over denying a ticket to Ramesh Tawadkar is palpable amongst the ST youth as they consider him to be their true leader. They argue that Tawadkar had a major role to play in getting ST youth recruited in various government departments besides also using funds allotted by the Centre to ST community to construct playgrounds, community halls and other needed facilities for them.
Last time there was not even a murmur when Meng Gaonkar, a ST was not given the ticket by BJP in Sanguem or for that matter when Quepem seat was surrendered by BJP to the MGP thereby eliminating Prakash Velip from the fray. However, this time the objections are loud and clear.
