Goa Assembly Set for ST Reservation as Cabinet Approves Bill

The Union Cabinet has approved a bill to provide reservations to Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly, aiming to address the communitys demand for representation. The bill empowers the census commissioner to notify the population of STs in Goa, based on which the Election Commission will amend the Delimitation Order to create ST reserved constituencies in the 40-member assembly.

In a significant move, the Union Cabinet on Thursday, March 7, 2024, approved a bill to provide reservations to Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly. This decision comes as a response to the long-standing demands from the ST community in the state, which currently has no seats reserved for them in the assembly.

Addressing the Needs of the ST Community

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, while briefing reporters on the Cabinet's decisions, highlighted the importance of addressing the concerns of the ST community in Goa. He emphasized that the absence of reserved seats for STs in the state assembly has been a pressing issue, and the government is committed to ensuring their fair representation.

Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024

To address this issue, the Cabinet approved the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024. This bill empowers the census commissioner to notify the population of STs in Goa, based on which the Election Commission will amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008. This amendment will pave the way for ST reservation in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

Process for Implementing ST Reservation

As per the official statement released after the Cabinet meeting, the Election Commission will carry out the readjustment of constituencies in the Legislative Assembly based on the revised population figures of the Scheduled Tribes. The commission will consider the provisions of Articles 170 and 332 of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Delimitation Act, 2002, while undertaking this process.

Next Steps and Current Representation

The approved bill will now be presented in the next Lok Sabha, which will be formed after the upcoming general elections. Currently, there are no seats reserved for the ST community in the 40-member Goa assembly, while one seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. The ST community has been demanding that four out of the 40 seats in the assembly be reserved for them.

Goa Chief Minister's Assurance

Recently, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed his commitment to fulfilling the demand for ST reservation in the assembly. He stated that the reservation would become a reality by the 2027 polls. The estimated ST population in Goa is approximately 1.5 lakh, as mentioned by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The approval of the bill to provide reservations to Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly is a significant step towards ensuring fair representation and addressing the concerns of the ST community in the state. The implementation of this bill will empower the Election Commission to make necessary adjustments to the constituencies, ensuring that the ST community has a voice in the decision-making processes of the state.