JSM to intensify stir for delisting converted ST/SCs from quota benefits

 

New Delhi, Jun 21: The Janajati Suraksha Manch (JSM) is intensifying its move to demand delisting the Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste members who had embraced Islam or Christianity from the ST/SC status and the subsequent reservations in jobs, education and legislative bodies.

 

According to reports Sharad Chavan of JSM said that they will intensify their agitation to delist the names of such converted ST/SC people as they are drawing the major benefits of the quota meant for non-converted STs and SCs.

 

Years ago, in the 1960s the then a tribal Congress leader and MP Kartik Oraon had first raised this issue and launched a move stating that the ST/SC converts are getting the major chunk of reservation benefits and this should be stopped.

The government then had instituted a Joint Parlkiamentary Committee (JPC) to go into the issue and submit its report and recommendations. What happened to that report no one knows.

 

Now the JSM has taken up this issue once again. Sharad Chavan of the JSM said that those who have adopted other faiths are getting double benefits. They are putting their children in the Christian schools taking advantage of their minority status but when it comes to jobs they show their ST/SC status and grab the jobs too thus depriving the original ST/SC sections. The majority of tribal people who are struggling hard to preserve and protect their traditional faith and culture remain at the receiving end, Chavan said.

 

The JSM has already organized 171 such awareness rallies in 273 ST/SC dominated districts in the country and contacted 451 MPs cutting across the party affiliations for seeking their support to JSM mission.

 

To take this issue to its logical conslusion, ther JSM is planning to hold rallies in the ST dominated district of Narmada, Valsad and Bharuch in Gujarat in next month. Similarly, 11 rallies will be held in Jharkhand and 13 in Chhattisgarh - both tribal dominated states of India. Besides, the JSM plans to reach out to atleast 3000 MPs and MLAs across the country to appraise them of the seriousness and urgency of the issue.

 

Jhabua MP Guman Singh Domar and Bharuch MP Mansukhbai Vasava have extended their full support to this move of JSM and called for holding such rallies throughout the tribal area. This issue was raised effectively during the 2011 census also.