NT Reporter
Panaji
Speaker of the Goa legislative assembly Ramesh Tawadkar and local tribal leaders have urged President Droupadi Murmu that scheduled areas in Goa be notified for effective development of the tribal communities in the state.
The President said that notifying scheduled areas will be a policy decision that will be taken up by the government.
Tawadkar-led delegation from Goa participated in a special interaction session held by the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 18 with eminent tribal leaders from across the country attending
the event.
The interaction aimed at gathering insights for shaping more effective policies and initiatives concerning the tribal communities. It also aimed at ensuring that the government programmes were more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the tribal population, while also preserving their cultural heritage and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking on the occasion, Tawadkar, a senior BJP leader and Canacona MLA, said that notifying scheduled areas is one of the major demands of the scheduled tribe community of Goa that is yet to be fulfilled. “Notifying scheduled areas will help the government to decide on policies for effective development of the tribal communities in Goa,” he said.
Tawadkar also made a mention about passage of the Readjustment of Representation of the Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill in the Parliament and the assent given by the President. He said the tribals in Goa had to fight for decades to attain constitutional rights.
The Goa delegation included MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, Prabhakar Gaonkar, Mohan Gaonkar, Savita Tawadkar, Ajay Gaude and Anthony Barbosa. The leaders shared their perspectives on the challenges faced by the state’s tribal communities and the steps needed to enhance their welfare, education and livelihood opportunities.
The President emphasised the importance of continued engagement with tribal representatives to strengthen participatory governance and ensure that the voices of indigenous communities are reflected in national policymaking.
