Margao: The dhangar community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status is snowballing into a statewide movement, with the community drumming up support from across Goa ahead of its Aug 15 deadline for govt to act on the over two-decade-long demand.Publicised as a mega event, a dhangar convention has been organised in Bicholim on Saturday . Organisers have called for unity and urged the community to fight for its ST rights. Community leaders are expected to use the platform to reiterate the charter of demands and outline the course of action should govt fail to respond by Aug 15.The Akhil Goa Dhangar Samaj has already served notice that it will intensify its agitation if the issue is not resolved by the deadline. Community leaders maintain that all procedural formalities required for ST recognition have been completed and that the matter now rests entirely on political will and timely action from govt. Members have voiced disappointment that past assurances, including commitments of an early decision, have not translated into concrete action.Towards that end, the Akhil Goa Dhangar Samaj, at a recent meeting, reviewed the campaign’s progress and resolved to strengthen mobilisation efforts at the village and taluka level across the state. Leaders indicated the movement would enter a more decisive phase if the issue remains unresolved. They cautioned that a failure to arrive at a clear decision by Aug 15 could push the community towards a statewide agitation through democratic means.
