Once a law, it will fulfil the aspiration for political reservation in the assembly
The much-awaited bill – The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in the Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2025 – was passed unanimously by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, bringing much cheer to the tribal population of Goa. It didn’t come on a platter. They had to struggle for it for many years. Politicians will readily take credit for such a development, but the tribal leaders know of the challenges and obstacles they faced in getting their demand heard.
It has been a long-drawn aspiration of the people to get political representation in the state assembly. A senior tribal leader said that August 5, 2025, is a historic day for Goa, as the bill was passed after a 22-year struggle.
It took nearly 42 years to get recognition for these indigenous communities in Goa. After a more than decade-long struggle, the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Amendment Bill, 2002, was passed in Parliament, and Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip were included in the Schedule of the Constitution. However, Dhangars were excluded due to technical reasons. On January 7, 2003, the President gave assent to the bill, and after 2003, the three communities were notified as Scheduled Tribes. However, even after 21 years of recognition, it has been a struggle for them. As per the 2011 Census, the tribal population in Goa was 1.49 lakh, which is approximately 10.23 per cent. Despite their sizable presence, they don’t have reservation at present in the state assembly. In the 40-member House, there is only one reserved seat, and that is Pernem, for the Scheduled Caste.
According to tribal leaders, they have a long list of demands and grievances, but the most important is political reservation. After a threat of major agitation by the Mission Political Reservation for STs – which was formed especially for the purpose – the ruling dispensation was compelled to make moves for political reservations. Protests had to be held in Delhi to prevail upon the central government.
The bill was initially tabled on August 5, 2024, and was pending since then for one reason or another, including protests by the Opposition on some other issues, which stalled the proceedings of the House. Eventually, it was passed on Tuesday, a year after it was moved. There is uncertainty among them whether they will get political representation in the Goa assembly in the election scheduled to be held in early 2027. This is also because, as per the announcement by the central government, the Population Census is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
The bill, once passed by the Rajya Sabha and notified, will empower the Election Commission of India to make amendments in the Delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies Order, 2008, and adjust the seats in the Goa legislative assembly for the Scheduled Tribes of the state. The tribal population is likely to get four seats in the assembly. It could be from Quepem, Nuvem, Priol, Sanguem and Canacona.
Analysts feel that the issue is not over for the BJP government yet. The ST samaj may be divided because of the leadership issue, but there is unanimity that the political reservation demand should be fulfilled at the earliest. It’s a challenge for the government to resolve this.
While a milestone has been achieved with the Lok Sabha passing the important bill, it is also important that the other pending issues are addressed and there is unity among various sections of the population for a bigger cause. Their leaders also need to bury the hatchet and work for the progress and upliftment of the community.
