Tribal communities stage protest demanding inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category in the U.T.
Members of the Puducherry Adhikudi Kattunayakan Tribal People's Movement staged a demonstration near the Anna statue on Friday, demanding inclusion of the Kattunayakan, Kuruman, Malaikuravan, and Yerukala tribes in the Scheduled Tribes category in the Union Territory.
The demonstration was led by K.Ramkumar, president of the Puducherry Tribal People's Federation and G.Danapal, president of The Puducherry Adhikudi Kattunayakan Tribal People's Movement.
The protesters urged the Central and the Puducherry governments to recognise the tribes under Article 342(2) of the Indian Constitution and include them in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category for reservation.
According to Mr. Ramkumar, protests, rallies, and meetings have been held consistently for over 40 years, demanding the inclusion of these tribes under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. The inclusion would grant the community access to various benefits and concessions crucial for their development.
They further added that the relevant files in support of the demand have been sent from Puducherry to the Centre multiple times, but have been denied and returned.
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