The process for providing political reservation to Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly gained further momentum after Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi yesterday and sought the Centre’s support to expedite the matter.

 

During the meeting, Dr. Sawant requested the Union Home Minister to fast-track ST political reservation in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly. Following the discussion, the Chief Minister said that Mr Shah gave a positive assurance on the request.

 

Dr. Sawant also briefed Mr Shah about various development initiatives and welfare programmes undertaken by the Goa Government and sought his continued guidance. He invited the Union Home Minister to attend the presentation ceremony of the President of India’s Police Colours to the Goa Police and the inauguration of the BJP Goa unit’s new state headquarters.

 

The demand for ST reservation has gained importance in Goa after several communities were granted Scheduled Tribe status in recent years.

 

Earlier, the Chief Minister had said that the state government was making efforts in coordination with the Centre to provide ST reservation before the upcoming Assembly elections. Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar had also expressed confidence that a decision would be taken soon, stating that Goa could consider the 2011 Census as the basis for implementing ST reservation, similar to other states.