Continuing his efforts to secure political representation for the Scheduled Tribe Communities in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to expedite political reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly.

According to a news report, Sawant met Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 4, and said the Union minister gave a “positive assurance” on his request.

“Grateful for his positive assurance on my request to expedite political reservation for the Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly,” Sawant said in a post on X. It is pertinent to note that the BJP-led government in Goa had promised to ensure political representation and social justice for Scheduled Tribes by providing reservation in the Legislative Assembly.

In furtherance of this commitment, the process for reserving Assembly Constituencies (ACs) for Scheduled Tribes has been initiated, with four constituencies identified for ST reservation, subject to the applicable legal and electoral processes. The four Assembly constituencies proposed to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Goa are: Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona and Dharbandora.

These constituencies were identified because they have the highest concentration of Goa’s recognised Scheduled Tribe communities – primarily Gawda, Kunbi, and Velip. Political reservation for Scheduled Tribes has gained significance in Goa after several communities in the state were granted ST status in recent years.

CM Sawant also briefed HM on development initiatives undertaken by the state government and sought his continued guidance.

Reportedly, the CM also invited Shah to attend the presentation ceremony of the President of India’s Police Colours to the Goa Police and, on behalf of the BJP’s Goa unit, invited him to inaugurate the party’s new state headquarters.