April 6, 2022
Luizinho Faleiro’s Special Mention on proportional representation for Gowdas, Kunbis, Velips in Goa Assembly
Sir, Goa comprises 10.23 per cent Scheduled Tribes population consisting of Gowdas, Kunbis and Velips. Even after sixty years of Goa’s liberation, these members have been unable to find full and proper representation in the State Assembly of Goa. Gowdas, Kunbis and Velips were notified under Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Amendment) Act, 2002 on 8th January, 2003, yet 19 years passed, they are kept outside the Goa Assembly. This is a clear violation of Article 332 and Article 330 of our Constitution. I remember with nostalgia in 1980, I was privileged to lead the
movement for Goa’s Scheduled Tribes as President of Gowda’s Vikas Mandal, even through, I don’t belong to this community. We fought for reservation in professional colleges and employment. Today, they have the reservation in Panchayats, Municipalities, Zila Panchayats except in the Goa Assembly. This step empowered the communities to live more dignified lives at par with other citizens of Goa. However, this progress has been left incomplete as these communities were not provided their due representation in the Goa Assembly. India is the world’s largest democracy
and yet it is very sad that Gowdas, Kunbis and Velips are oppressed, suppressed and exploited socially, economically and politically, ever after 60 years of liberation of Goa and 19 years after their declaration of India’s Scheduled Tribes, earlier by the colonial powers and now due to lack of political representation. I urge the Government of India to provide proportional and equitable representation in the Goa Assembly as per the mandate of the Constitution. Thank you.
