Opposing the government’s decision to conduct a re-survey of some tribal communities, former tribal development minister Madhukarrao Pichad has warned of filing cases under the Tribal Atrocities Act if the decision is carried out.
Speaking at a programme in Nashik, Mr Pichad said that the state government has launched a re-survey of 17 out of 44 communities. “This decision is injustice to the Adivasi communities. Teams from Pune university are going to villages and conducting the survey. The Adivasi Vikas Parishad has barred off the villages under the survey.
Despite this ban, if some people come for survey, we will launch proceedings under the Tribal Atrocities Act,” he said.
The 17 castes under re-survey include Mahadev Koli, Kokna, Pardhan, Thakar and others. The government has begun re-survey of these 17 communities in stages. In the first stage in Pune, the teams began work in Khed, Junnar and Akola. On 25 November, the team will visit Ambewadi, Indore, Sonoshi, Ghanoshi, Adsare and other villages inIgatpuri tehsil of Nashik district, he said.“We have earlier opposed this re-survey. We have toured all the concerned villages and put up boards warning the team from approaching the Adivasi people. The boards have the words Chalte vha (get out), Gharat ghusal tar atrocity dakhal karu (If you enter the houses, we will file cases under the Tribal Atrocities Act). We have also asked the respective gram sabhas to pass resolutions to debar the teams,” he said.
Mr Pichad further said that they were strongly opposed to give reservations to Dhangar community from the Adivasi quota. “We will be staging a massive morcha in Nagpur on December 11 and voice our protest,” he said.
Mr Pichad criticised the adivasi development minister Vishnu Savra, alleging that Mr Savra had no control over his senior officers. He also alleged that the students of Adivasi ashram schools and hostels have not received their uniforms, textbooks and scholarships and that funds have not been utilised.
