‘Don’t want sympathy, political reservation constitutional right’
Ponda: Political reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is a constitutional right and the government should expedite the remaining process for reserving Assembly seats for STs, MLA Govind Gaude said on Sunday.
“We do not want sympathy from anyone. Political reservation for STs is our constitutional right,” Gaude said.
He was speaking at a gathering organised by the United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA) at Katamgal Dada, Farmagudi, on the occasion of International Tribal Day. UTAA members gathered at the site to offer prayers and gharane, seeking the government’s completion of the remaining process.
“The tribal community has been pursuing its constitutional right for the past 23 years. It is very sad that every time we have to fight for our rights,” said Gaude.
Referring to the Gazette notification issued on August 6 bringing into force the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, Gaude said the notification was only part of the process required for political reservation.
Speaking after the Gen Z programme, Gaude said unity among tribal youth would play an important role in taking the movement forward. He said the youth understood their responsibility towards the community.
On the August 13 gathering at Azad Maidan, Panaji, Gaude said it would be a solidarity gathering for the movement and not a protest.
UTAA president Prakash Velip said the organisation’s movement would continue until the reservation of seats was completed. He said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured UTAA that the process would be completed in the “fastest way possible” and by October.
“We trust the Chief Minister will live up to his assurance. We hope our dream of seeing four tribals making it to the state Legislative Assembly will be fulfilled in the 2027 Assembly polls,” Velip said.
ST leaders Vishwas Gaude and Durgadas Gaude, besides other members and leaders of the tribal community, were present.
Notification alone does not complete process: Gen Z leaders
Ponda: Tribal youth leaders have demanded that the government complete the process for implementing political reservation for Goa’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) community before the 2027 Assembly election, saying the notification of the reservation legislation does not complete the process.
Speaking at a World Tribal Day programme organised by the United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) at Gopal Ganpati Auditorium, Farmagudi, Ashita Gaude, Shravani Govind Gaude, Shashikant Gaonkar, Akash Gaonkar and Megraj Akarkar said the community remained united on the demand and would assemble at Azad Maidan, Panaji, on August 13.
Ashita said several procedural stages, including delimitation, examination of population data, preparation of proposals, inviting and considering objections and issuing the final notification, were still pending.
“We are not asking for any favour. We are asking for our rightful constitutional representation,” she said, urging the government to complete the process before the 2027 Assembly election.
Shravani said the community wanted a clear response and outcome from the government and urged tribal youth to continue raising the issue. “The people should not be afraid of the government; the government should be afraid of the people,” she said.
Shashikant called for unity among tribal youth and said the community should remain organised during the reservation process. He said democratic protests could be intensified if delays continued.
Akash said greater awareness of tribal identity, culture and history was needed among young people and said social media could be used to connect youth and spread awareness.
“Our rights were won through struggle, not charity,” Akarkar said.
The youth leaders appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the government to complete the remaining procedures and implement political reservation before the 2027 election.
They said the demand for political representation had continued for around 23 years. The programme was attended by MLA Govind Gaude, Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, former minister Prakash Velip and others.
