UTAA demands ordinance reserving 12% seats for STs

PANJIM, JAN 17
The United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) has demanded that the government come out with an ordinance to facilitate 12 per cent reservation for Schedule Tribes (STs) community in the forthcoming Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) election.
The delegation of UTTA called on the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao, Education Minister Babush Monserrate as also State Election Commissioner (SEC) Dr M Modassir to press their demand to amend Section 10 of the CCP Act 2002, through ordinance.
The UTTA claimed that the survey conducted by the Other Backward Commission (OBC) in 2004, has found that ST population in the State of Goa is 12 per cent.
The government has had 12 per cent reservation for STs in panchayat, ZP and municipal elections in the past.
They also claimed that even the Central Government has accepted this. The STs enjoy 12 per cent reservation in the Central Government jobs in the State.
“On this basis we demand that 12 per cent wards be reserved for ST in CCP election,” says the memorandum submitted to the SEC by them today.
No seats were reserved for ST community in 2005 CCP election on the grounds that ST population falling within the jurisdiction of CCP was less than 2 per cent.
The delegation which met the government today consist of Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, UTAA’s Joint Convenor Govind Gawade, Working President Namdev Fatarpekar, Central Committee members Soiru Velip and Vishwas Gawade.
 “The chief minister and the urban development minister have assured the delegation that although there is no provision in the CCP Act, the government will try to have reservation for STs in CCP election,” claimed UTTA delegation.