The targeted and targeted attack on non-tribal homes and businesses in Kherwada and Bicchiwada by protesters demanding teaching jobs has highlighted the difference between the two groups. The apathy of back-to-back governments in addressing the concerns of both groups has further compounded the problem.
A section of tribal youths climbed to the top of Kakri Doongri Hill demanding that the 1,137 vacant teaching positions in the open category be filled by them on 6 September. These positions are reserved for candidates who do not belong to SC and ST, since the open category candidates did not qualify for the same.
They continued at the top for 18 days until September 24, but neither the local administration nor the government started talks to bring them down. The Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) extended their support from day one.
Interestingly, the local administration did not feel any law and order problem or threat to the NH-8 connecting the Udaipur-Ahmedabad or Delhi-Mumbai highways for 18 days. For the past three days, the state has been struggling to contain the situation. Officials who requested anonymity agreed that they took the protest for teaching positions only and were lost on reading the background that this lawsuit is an expression of a set of demands made by tribal groups and now by the BTP.
“Chittorgarh SP Deepak Bhargava saved the entire Shreenath colony in Kherwada from being looted by protesting youth. Some protesters are trying to disrupt the social fabric of the region that the police will prevent,” said Binita Thakur, IG, Udaipur Range.
The incidents have instilled fear among locals who have accused back-to-back governments of creating a divide between the two groups. “I am a non-tribal living in Dungarpur with my hard work and I have access to all the luxuries, but I will remain vulnerable until I have a political voice. ST’s bottom-up reservation has made us politically apartheid,” Piyush said Pandya, a businessman from Dungarpur.
Qualifying the area of the Tribal Sub Plan as similar to Article 370 repealed by the central government because they are discriminatory provisions, he said: “The areas notified to the TSP follow certain rules aimed at the advancement of the STs, especially government positions, representation policy and resource allocation. A person living in Jaipur or in unreported areas cannot apply for a government job in the TSP area until he has a history of living here. Is this not discriminatory? ”
Vela Ram Ghogra, BTP State President, expressed regret over the incidents and continued to fight for tribal rights in tribal areas. “This land belongs to everyone who lives here, but the tribes are the indigenous clans. No one from the non-notified area should be allowed to own land here, as it is our land. Our culture and identity will be saved in a separate state. “Bhil Pradesh ‘on Jharkhand lines with a place for everyone,” Ghogra said.
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