With tribal population in the State number over 7.5 lakh, Tribal People’s Council has demanded a Lok Sabha constituency to be reserved for the tribals so that they will get due representation.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi, council chairman K.A. Gunasekaran said that most of the States that have substantial tribal population has its share of parliamentary seats, except Tamil Nadu.
The letter said that “if the politicians had taken steps, the State would have got Scheduled Tribe Lok Sabha constituency from 2001, but they did not,” he said.
Uppiliapuram in Tiruchi district was the only ST Assembly constituency, but it too lost its status on account of delimitation of the constituencies.
The letter said that the reduction of one Assembly seat is clear violation of Article 334 of the Constitution.
The letter said that the demand for one ST constituency is yet to be disposed of by the Commission.
In the absence of a parliament seat exclusively for the tribal people, no one is concerned about the non-implementation of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution, Panchayat Extension Act and the Forest Rights Act 2006.
There is no use of Integrated Tribal Development Programme and funding thereon under Tribal Sub Plan as about Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 600 crore remain unutilised every year.
“This leads to crisis of unemployment leading the tribal youth to involve in smuggling of red sanders and other illegal activities under the clutches of mafias,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the Election Commission will initiate steps to allot a constituency in the State for tribal people so that they get due representation in parliament.
