Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA), the apex body representing Goa’s tribal communities, has made a fresh appeal to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to ensure the long-pending demand for political reservation in the Goa Legislative Assembly is fulfilled before the 2027 state elections.
In a letter addressed to BJP Goa President Damodar Naik, UTAA highlighted that although the Gawada, Kunbi, and Velip communities were granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in 2003 by the then BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Goa, these communities have yet to receive constitutional political representation.
The letter points out that a Bill addressing the issue was introduced in Parliament in August 2024 and discussed in November, but despite assurances, it was not passed in the Budget session either. “Now even the Budget session has concluded without action. Therefore, we urge you to take up this issue with the central leadership and ensure that our rightful demand is fulfilled in time for the 2027 Assembly elections,” the letter states.
UTAA has reiterated its commitment to securing justice for the tribal population of Goa and emphasized that the delay in providing political reservation continues to be a matter of serious concern.
