MARGAO: The Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa (MPRSTG) team launched its pan-Goa awareness campaign from Gavol ward in Khola village, Quepem and highlighted injustice done to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community of Goa and their demand for political reservation in the 2024 Lok Sabha (LS) elections.
MPRSTG Executive member of Mission Upaso Gaonkar explained to the people how the constitutional rights of ST’s are being denied even after 20 years of getting ST status.
He raised concern over the 3000+ pending ST backlogs vacancies to be filled in various government departments; the 10,000+ individual forest rights claims and 125+ community forest right claims that are yet to be settled; the pending notification of Scheduled Areas (Tribal Areas) as per the Vth Schedule; the non-functioning of the Tribes Advisory Council; and the improper allotment and non- utilisation of the Tribal Sub Plan funds.
“As per the total annual budget, the Government should allot and spend over Rs 2,650 crore for the development of tribals. However only Rs 200 to 250 crores are spent annually. Out of these funds, some are even diverted to non-ST areas or for other projects, which does not benefit tribals,” Gaonkar said.
