MY PRIVATE MEMBER RESOLUTION ON POLITICAL RESERVATION TO SCHEDULED TRIBES REJECTED BY SPEAKER : ALTONE D’COSTA

Goa Khabar : Bulletin no.162 issued by Secretary Legislature reveals that Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has rejected my Private Member Resolution on “Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes in Goa”. It appears that Speaker has acted on directions of anti-Scheduled Tribes BJP Leadership, stated Quepem Congress MLA Altone D’Costa.

Reacting to the Non-inclusion of his Private Member Resolution demanding Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the list of the Resolutions selected for discussion on Friday 19th July 2024, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa slammed the anti-Scheduled Tribes Agenda and Policies of the BJP.

The replies given to Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao in February 2024 in Goa Legislative Assembly by the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant reveal that it was only on 24th May 2023 that the Directorate of Tribal Welfare wrote to Ministry of Law & Justice requesting them to constitute Delimitation Commission to identify Constituencies to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Goa, stated Altone D’Costa.

This exposes the fact that from 2012 to 2023, BJP Government did not do anything towards Political Reservation for the Scheduled Tribes. It may be noted that GAKUVED had submitted a Memorandum to the Parliamentary Committee for Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribes in December 2022 demanding Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes besides various other issues. Government woke up only after 5 months and wrote to Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India, said Altone D’Costa.

BJP Government has always remained anti-Scheduled Tribes. They failed to announce support price of Rs.175 to Cashew Farmers. Funds received from Central Government for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes have remained unutilized for last many years. BJP Government has even failed to notify Tribal Areas in Goa, stated Altone D’Costa.

I had moved the Private Member Resolution with the sole intention to give justice to Scheduled Tribe Community in Goa. I am feeling sad and let down as my Resolution on a social cause is rejected by the Speaker who himself belongs to Scheduled Tribe Community, said Altone D’Costa.