Pondy Govt asked to take steps to recognise STs

Puducherry, May 21 (UNI) The Puducherry Scheduled Tribe People's Federation today urged the administration to take immediate steps to recognise the ST people in the Union Territory.

In a statement here, Federation President K Ramkumar urged Chief Minister N Rangasamy to take up the issue with the Centre when he leads a delegation of Legislators to New Delhi to press for statehood for Puducherry in the first week of June.

He pointed out that reservation was being provided to STs in all States and Union Territories, except Puducherry. When the SC/ST list was prepared in 1964, the STs were not identified here due to wrong information that tribal people were not residing in Puducherry.

Despite repeated appeals, nothing had materialised in the matter.

Mr Ramkumar held the ''wrong approach'' of the Social Welfare Department here responsible for the delay in recognising STs. When the Centre had sought some clarification on the issue, the department had not only delayed its reply, but also given wrong information, following which the Ministry had returned the file.

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