Bill to Provide STs Representation in Goa Assembly Tabled in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Presently, the ST community has no reserved seats in the state’s assembly.

The bill, titled Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, aims to empower the census commissioner to notify the population of STs in Goa. It highlights the significant increase in the ST population according to the 2011 census compared to the 2001 figures.

As per the 2011 Primary Census Abstract, Goa’s total population was 14,58,545, with Scheduled Castes (SC) numbering 25,449 and Scheduled Tribes (ST) at 1,49,275. The bill notes a “peculiar situation” where the ST population considerably exceeds the SC population, yet there are no reserved assembly seats for STs, depriving them of constitutional reservation benefits.

Currently, the Election Commission lacks the authority to adjust seat reservations for SCs and STs before the next census. Therefore, the bill seeks to provide the necessary enabling provisions. Once enacted, it will allow the Election Commission to amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, based on the revised ST population figures, ensuring reservation in the 40-member Goa assembly.

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for the bill in March, shortly before the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced on March 16.

At present, one seat in the Goa assembly is reserved for Scheduled Castes, while none is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.