Panaji: The United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) on Monday announced a mega convention in Panaji on Aug 13 to press for political reservation for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. The event coincides with one year since the notification of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly Constituencies Act.UTAA member and former MLA Prakash Velip said the ST community was denied political reservation in the last four assembly elections. He alleged that the community had been taken for granted for the past 23 years and warned govt against continuing to do so.Velip said that despite the Act being notified a year ago to provide political reservation for the ST community, there has been no progress.“Elections are due in Jan and Feb. We have already lost four elections, and we have taken a pledge that we have to get political reservations, and govt should give us the right of political reservation before the 2027 assembly election,” Velip said.He urged all political parties to support the ST community’s demand and said UTAA would launch an awareness campaign highlighting the sequence of events related to political reservation.The Lok Sabha passed the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly Constituencies Bill on Aug 5, 2025, followed by the Rajya Sabha. Velip said the President subsequently gave assent to the Bill, after which it was notified.
