The Maharashtra government may again find itself fire fighting, as the proposal to form a new Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), under the fresh regime, is pending even after 10 months of assuming office.
The Opposition has alleged that the delay was to suppress the resistance of Tribal MLAs to the demand of Dhangar community to include them in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota.
TACs are mandated as per the Fifth schedule of the constitution, to advice on matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the STs in respective States as may be referred to them by the Governor. The decisions taken in the TACs do not need Cabinet’s approval and the council enjoys a say in crucial matter related to tribal issues.
State’s Tribal Affairs Minister Vishnu Sawra told The Hindu that the proposal to set this new council had been sent to the CM. “It is true that we have not set up the TAC. But the procedure is ongoing and we may soon have the council in place,” he said.
“The government has to nominate tribal MLAs and MPs for the TAC of which the Chief Minister is the chairperson. It is clear that the government is unwilling to do it only so that our opposition to inclusion of Dhangars in ST category is suppressed,” said Advocate K. C. Padvi, Congress MLA from Nandurbar district.
According to Madhukar Pichad, a senior tribal leader from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the proposal of inclusion of Dhangars in ST quota will be discussed in the TAC. “BJP had enjoyed Dhangar support in the last election and had promised to fulfil their demands. It knows that forming the council would mean end to their false promise and hence it is delaying it,” said Mr. Pichad.
While the Congress has decided to write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the NCP leader will be meeting the Governor on this issue on Wednesday. Despite assurances of giving ST status to Dhangars in the pre-election rallies, the government has failed to fulfil the demand.
Apart from the political leaders, tribal activists too have threatened to launch an agitation for the demand. Dr. Sanjay Dabhade, from Pune told The Hindu that state government’s proposed changes in the revenue act, which would open tribal lands for the development could also be the reason for the delay in forming the TAC. “All these proposals will go through the council and face hostility. It seems the government wants to avoid any opposition,” he said.
