PONDA: The United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) demanded that the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Goa be limited to the Gavada, Kunbi, and Velip communities. They specifically opposed granting ST status to the Dhangar communities in Goa. Speaking to media persons here on Friday, UTAA president Prakash Velip and other office-bearers expressed concern that including Dhangars in the ST category would reduce the share of ST reservation for existing communities. Therefore, he urged the Goa government not to extend ST status to the Dhangar community.
He referred to a Supreme Court order in Maharashtra where Dhangars were not granted ST status, suggesting that the same principle should be applied in Goa.
The event took place during the Karyakarta Melvaa of UTAA in Ponda. Other officials present included UTAA Secretary Durgadas Gaude, Working Committee President Vishwas Gaude, Suryakant Gaude, Satish Velip, Nanu Bandolkar, and Bhalchandra Usgaokar.
It’s noteworthy that ST communities currently receive 12 percent reservation in Goa, and the Union Cabinet recently promised them political reservation in the next Assembly election.
