PANAJI: Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, on Thursday, urged Members of Parliament from Goa to intervene and demand amendment to Bill No 325 (Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe) during the ongoing session of the Parliament to include Dhangar-Goulys in the ST category.
Stating that a resolution moved by him for the purpose could not be taken up due to the curtailment of the Assembly session, Kavlekar who is also the president of the Gomantak Dhangar Samajonnati Mandal, raised the issue while speaking during the zero hour of the Assembly session.
“Our MPs should take up this matter before government of India and put forth the demand to recognise the long pending and genuine case of Dhangar-Goulys of Goa to be accorded the status of tribals and be included in the Schedule Tribes list under Article 342 of the Constitution by moving amendment to the Scheduled Tribes) Order Bill, 2013 or 2014 to appropriate and include the Dhangar-Goulys of Goa as STs, on par with Gawda, Kunbi and Velips,” said Kavlekar.
“I request our MPs to persuade the central government to move the amendment to the bill when it comes for discussion in the ongoing Parliament session,” he added.
Social Welfare Minister Pandurang Madkaikar responded by saying that he would hold a meeting with all the concerned MLAs and both MPs of Goa along with other officials and then decide on sending a letter of request for the same to the central government and explore other options to meet the demand.