Tribals to stage morcha demanding replacement of ST with adivasi

The morcha will be led by tribal leader and leader of the opposition in the state assembly Madhukarrao Pichad. Speaker of the dissolved Lok Sabha P A Sangma, former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar, MPs Somajibhai Damor, Dilip Bhuria, Datta Meghe, Praful Patel and Manikrao Gavit, former MP Arvind Netam and MPCC President Ranjit Deshmukh will address a rally at the end of the morcha. Madavi has also demanded that the ST lists of the states must be revised to exclude all non-existent and controversial communities from drawing benefits as tribes. He said amendments should be made to give reserved representation to adivasis in the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas.He demanded that the Bhuria Committee report be implemented in toto in the State and added that funds allocated in the budget for tribal development should be strictly utilised for individual and family welfare programmes for tribals. On a priority basis, 100 per cent funding should be made for at least a well and an electric pump on rain-fed agricultural land.

He welcomed the regulation requiring an applicant for the caste certificate to prove relationships in the community.