Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA) called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, demanding that the Tribal Ministry be given to Priol MLA Govind Gaude.
“We have met CM Sawant today and handed over a memorandum that Priol MLA Govind Gaude be handed over to the Tribal Ministry. It is up to the CM to decide. Govind Gaude has worked extensively for the community,” said UTAA President Prakash Velip.
He further said that the tribals have got many schemes and other facilities under Gaude.
“The Gawdas, Kunbis and Velips of Goa got included in the scheduled tribes in 2003 when we had BJP governments both in Goa and at the Centre-state government led by chief minister Parrikar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister,” he said.
Velip said that sd we have a double-engine government, we expect that all our pending demands, which lie in the centre and state domain, will be met soon.
“Four members of the community got elected without there being any reservation. Once seats are reserved, the number of ST MLAS may rise further. Therefore political reservation is necessary,” he added.