Parliament has passed the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2025 with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The Lok Sabha passed the bill last week. The bill aims at enabling reservation of seats for effective democratic participation of members of Scheduled Tribes and to provide for the readjustment of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa.

 

 

Replying to the discussion, Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the population of Scheduled Tribes have significantly increased from 566 in 2001 to around over one lakh 49 thousand in the State. He said, there was a provision of reservation for only scheduled Caste but as population of the Scheduled Tribes community has increased, it is necessary to grant reservation to ST in the state assembly. He said, out of total 40 seats only one seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste and there was no reservation for tribal members in the assembly. Mr Meghwal said, the bill has been brought to give reservation to the tribal in the Goa Legislative Assembly. He said, the main mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is development with the focus on Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. 

 

Earlier, participating in the discussion, Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade of BJP said that through this bill, the tribal community will get representation in the Assembly. Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli of YSR Congress said, this bill will ensure that the voice and concern of the ST will be heard in the legislative assembly.