Margao: After Centre issued a notification on Thursday bringing into force the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, president of United Tribals Alliance Association, Prakash Velip, said on Saturday that while it was a “welcome move”, the movement would continue until the reservation of seats takes place.“The notification is the first step govt has taken towards the fulfillment of our demand for reservation of assembly constituencies in Goa, after a year-long delay,” Velip told reporters. “We have already held meetings at 425 villages across the state so far to create awareness among the tribals over the demand for political reservation. Further meetings will take place as planned. The future course of action will be decided at a meeting to be held on Sunday.”Velip said that unity displayed by the leaders of various factions by coming together at an event recently has had its desired effect in the form of the govt notification.“However, this movement is not restricted to the issue of reservation of assembly seats alone,” he said. “Reservation of seats for STs in the Goa legislative assembly was one of the 12-point charter of demands of the UTAA agitation held in Balli in 2011 that led to the death of two tribal youths.”Velip said that chief minister Pramod Sawant has assured UTAA that the process for reservation of assembly seats for STs will be completed in the “fastest way possible” and latest by Oct. “We trust the chief minister will live up to his assurance, and hope that our dream of seeing four tribals making it to the state legislative assembly will be fulfilled in the 2027 assembly polls,” said Velip.
