A delegation of tribal organisations led by former minister Bandhu Tirkey met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum seeking safeguards for tribal political representation ahead of the proposed delimitation exercise.
The delegation highlighted demographic changes in Fifth Schedule areas, displacement, migration and constitutional rights of tribal communities. It argued that delimitation should not be assessed solely on the basis of present population figures, but should also consider the spirit of the Fifth Schedule, historical circumstances, socio-geographical conditions and displacement caused by development projects.
The representatives apprehended that the exercise could reduce Scheduled Tribe representation in the Lok Sabha and state Assembly. They demanded that the existing level of tribal political representation and the current proportion of SC/ST reserved seats be protected, with additional seats created wherever necessary.
According to the delegation, Gangwar suggested discussing the matter with Chief Minister Hemant Soren and convening a special Assembly session to pass a resolution on delimitation for forwarding to the Centre through the Governor.
The delegation also urged the Governor to submit a report to the President under Paragraph 3 of the Fifth Schedule on demographic changes and the likely impact of delimitation. It sought a fresh high-level committee to examine the issue, along the lines of one constituted during former Governor Droupadi Murmu’s tenure.
The delegation included Dr Basvi Kido, Shashi Panna, Dayamani Barla, Dr Ramchandra Oraon and others.
Separately, the Adivasi Bhumij Munda Yuva Sangathan from Chandil raised issues related to traditional community participation in the Chandil Dam reservoir and preservation of Harshali-Megalith heritage.