Days after the Maharashtra government announced to constitute a committee to probe conversion in the tribal (Janjati/Vanvasi) dominated regions of the state, the Janjati Suraksha Manch has welcomed the step taken by the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government.
Reacting to the development, Sharad Chauvhan, national media convener of the Janjati Suraksha Manch, asserted that the “Janjati Suraksha Manch has been running a movement across the country to identify and remove those members of the Janjati community from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category who have left their own traditions, culture and have embraced any other religion, and the Maharashtra government’s move to form a committee is a desired step in this direction.”
Chauhan futher claimed that around 25000 Janjati community members had organised a protest rally demanding delisting exercise of those who have left their culture. Our representatives had also interacted with the Maharashtra cabinet minister, Mangal Prabhat Lodha and informed him about our demands.
“Recently a few legislators have also requested details of those ST students who have converted to other religion and studying in the Maharashtra’s ITI from ST quota, following which the concerned minister has assured to form a committee on the issue lead by a vice-chancellor. The steps taken in this regard by the concerned minister is a desired one and the Janjati Suraksha Manch wholeheartedly welcomes this move of the government,” added Chauvhan.
It is worth mentioning here that earlier, while replying to a calling attention motion moved by BJP legislator Davkhare and Pravin Darekar in Maharashtra council, skill development minister of Maharashtra, Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Thursday, December 14 informed that a committee will be formed to investigate the current benefits availed by those members of the scheduled tribes (ST) who have left the Sanatan fold and embraced Christianity or Islam in Maharashtra. The committee would submit its report within 45 days.
“The matter would be put up before the Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM, Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar following which a committee would be setup headed by a university vice chancellor. The committee will have members from all the political parties who will enquire about the cases of tribal (Janjati/ Vanvasi) conversion,” added Lodha.
Reports of illegal conversion of Janjatis
It is worth mentioning here that numerous reports of illegal conversion of the members of the Janjati community through the means of lure and inducement have been coming to the fore on a regular basis. This includes conversion promoted through the means of fallacy and promises of providing health care facilities, education, jobs and money.
Additionally, cases of conversion through the means of providing rations and luring innocent girls of the community with malafide intentions, such as sexual exploitation and acquiring property, have also been reported in large numbers across the Janjati-dominated regions of Bharat.
Demand of Delisting
It is pertinent to mention here that the Janjati community across different states of Bharat has been hitting the streets in support of a nationwide de-listing exercise to identify those among the community who have changed their religion but still own a scheduled tribe certificate and availing benefits of the reservation. Many of such rallies have also been held in the state of Maharashtra, where the Janjati community constitutes a significant 9 percent of the total population of the state.
It is to be noted that the demand for delisting is one of the long-pending issues pertaining to the tribal community, many of whose leaders have been seen raising it vocally. This includes greats like Baba Kartik Oraon, who also supported the cause of a nationwide identification process to safeguard the rights exclusively given to the tribal community.
