Keri, Apr 20 (TOI): The Dhangar-Gouly community, scattered around in Goa, has decided to come together on April 20 at Azad Maidan and protest against the apathy of the state government for non-inclusion of the community as a scheduled tribe. The community, which has a population of about 20,000 in Goa, and is in the OBC (other backward communities) category has been demanding inclusion in ST category for the past three decades.

In March 2002, the government of India had given ST status to Gawda, Kunbi and Velip communities of Goa. This was achieved under the banner of Gakuved, an organization that worked towards bringing these four socially and economically backward tribes including Dhangar-Gouly under ST status. But, the Dhangar community was not included for the ST status.

Speaking to TOI, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar, who is also president of the organizing committee of Gakuved said, "Our community is the most backward and does not enjoy any rights over land in their possession. They are struggling for their livelihood. Ignorance, poverty are the main hurdles in development. The Registrar General of India has been repeatedly refusing to grant the status of ST to our community on flimsy technical grounds."

since last three decades to include them in the list of the scheduled tribe communities. In March 2002 Government of India, has given the scheduled tribe status to Gawda, Kunbi and Velip communities of Goa. Under the banner Gakuved, an organization demanding for the tribal status to Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhnagar, a movement was initiated for inclusion of these four socially and economically backward communities as ST. But, the Dhangar community could not get the status of ST.

Babu Zore of Malpan of Sattari says, "We have been given promises by government about the tribal status, but presently, we are included into the list of Other Backward Communities. As there are many communities in OBC and they are more literate, educated and in big numbers, it is difficult for us to compete with them."

Rama Navu Shingadi from Usap of Latambarce of Bicholim told, "Even after four years passed away of launching of various schemes, we have not been given LPG free gas connection along with kit, water tank, solar cooker and other benefits."

In September 2013, the Directorate of Social Welfare of Goa government had published a white paper on the issue of non-inclusion of Goa Dhangar-Gouly as the scheduled tribes under article 342 of the constitution. "The office of the Registrar General of India has not made available or sent any model reports to Goa on the basis of Lokur Committee criteria already used for inclusion of communities from other states in ST list. There is an unreasonable delay in arriving at a concrete decision on the merit of this case," said Chandrakant Shinde, a youth leader from Pernem.

The Dhangar-Gouly, who evolved from a pastoral-nomadic ancestry, generated their own knowledge for survival in forests and developed their own social organization to regulate social life, had their own council of elders called the Agar Kasi to settle social and political disputes by paying gratitude to the goddess Mhalchi Pandhar.

"Our community has been characterized by tribal traits, geographical isolation, shyness of contact and socio-economic backwardness. Despite, we are not included into ST list," said Jayu Kolekar from Bicholim.