Following the meeting, the delegation said the Minister assured them that the matter would be placed before the Cabinet meeting on Friday, and efforts would be made to secure the required notification from the Central Government to move the process forward.
According to ST leader Govind Shirodkar, the delegation has already made three visits to Delhi to push the matter, but despite repeated follow-ups, the process is still stuck at the notification stage.
“If it takes nine months for a simple four-line notification, it raises questions on intent and seriousness,” Shirodkar said.
He further pointed to the lack of clarity or formal communication from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant or the administration, despite ongoing discussions in public. “No written statement has been issued confirming the government’s position, which has added to the frustration,” he said.
Explaining the procedural bottleneck, he noted that the process involves the Election Commission of India and that the central notification is essential for further steps like delimitation and implementation. "Until that notification is issued, the process cannot move ahead", he added.
While acknowledging the Minister’s efforts, including multiple visits to Delhi, Shirodkar said patience within the community is wearing thin. “We still have faith in the Tribal Minister, but the Chief Minister must intervene and identify where the process is getting stuck,” he said.
Reiterating their stand, the group made it clear that the agitation at Shramashakti Bhawan, outside the Directorate of Tribal Welfare in Patto-Panaji, will continue as a sit-in (dharna andolan) until their demand is met. “We are not stepping back until the notification is issued and implementation begins,” they said.
The leaders also warned of further escalation if there is no concrete outcome after Friday’s Cabinet meeting.
