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ST communities to get 12% reservation NT Staff Reporter Panaji Oct 2: The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar today announced that reservations for Gawada, Kunbi and Velip communities of the state, which have been recently included in the scheduled tribe category, would soon be increased from the existing 7.5 per cent to 12 per cent. Speaking after inaugurated the office of the newly-formed Goa State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation Ltd in the city, Mr Parrikar observed that education was the only factor which could bring about a sea change in the ST communities in the state. And for this purpose, the board of the corporation should try to implement all education-related schemes. He also assured an assistance of Rs 60 lakh for providing a hostel to ST students. The Chief Minister stated that if the government finds the ST population in the state is more than that has been shown by a recent survey then it would be ready to increase the facilities, proportionately. Mr Parrikar said that his government had made efforts to accord the ST status to Gawada, Kunbi and Velip communities not for garnering votes or gaining cheap popularity. “If social problems are linked to selfish motives then no solution would emerge,” he observed and stressed on the need to eliminate the practice of using the ST communities for winning elections by certain political parties. He pointed out the need to put a leash on the vice of alcoholism as observed in some ST communities. “A large number of ST members consume adulterated alcohol and lose their lives at a very early age,” he stated, adding that the government would run an insurance scheme for newly-married couples from these communities to ensure a safe future for their families. The Chief Minister announced that the Universal Mediclaim Scheme for Goa, which was to be implemented from October 2, 2004, would now be launched on December 19, later this year, as some modalities were still being worked out. Mr Parrikar also stated that the entire Kumeri-related survey would be completed by year-end. Speaking on the occasion, the Social Welfare Minister, Mr Ramrao Dessai said that a recent survey report of the backward commission had revealed that the percentage of ST population in the state is 12.06 per cent and that there is no question about denying the same. “However, if needed, the government would undertake re-survey of Goan ST communities from a recognised agency after carefully studying all the legal aspects,” he assured. Speaking about the ongoing delimitation process for assembly constituencies in the state, Mr Dessai said the work was being carried out by the Delimitation Commission with reference to the Census 2001, “However, the government would furnish fresh details as well as inputs about the state ST communities to the commission,” he informed. The GSSTFDC chairperson and Transport Minister, Mr Pandurang Madkaikar said the directors of the board of the corporation would brief him about the problems faced by the ST members in their respective areas, which would range from Kumeri cultivation to Mundkari issues. He also appealed to the ST community members to refrain from making unreasonable demands to the government. Mr Madkaikar observed the government should implement central schemes meant for the ST communities, besides making special budget provision for the corporation. In his welcome address, the corporation vice-president, Mr Prakash Velip said the United Tribal Alliance Association had already forwarded a memorandum of its 34 demands to the government, urging ST members to avail the benefits provided by the newly-formed corporation. He also stated that the recent survey on ST communities would help the government in implementing its reservation policy. The North Goa MP, Mr Shripad Naik, the social welfare secretary, Ms Debashree Mukherjee, the North Goa collector, Mr S S Keshkamat, the Sanguem MLA, Mr Vasu M Gaonkar and the GSSTFDC managing director, Mr Sanjeev Gadkar were also present on the occasion.
