Jaipur: Political and social tribal organisations Saturday issued a stern warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, cautioning against delay in meeting their longstanding demands. These include creation of a separate Bhil Pradesh state, enhanced reservation benefits in Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) areas, halting the delisting process of converted tribals, and ensuring proper utilisation of Centre–State funds earmarked for tribal welfare.The warning came during rallies and marches held across the tribal-dominated districts of Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, and Udaipur to mark World Tribal Day. Leading the charge, Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat accused the state govt of adopting an anti-tribal stance.Roat criticised the 2025–26 budget allocation for tribal welfare, which was reduced to Rs 250 crore from the previous Rs 1,500 crore. He alleged that the govt “misled the community” by adding the unspent Rs 1,500 crore from last year’s budget to the fresh Rs 250 crore allocation and presenting it as a Rs 1,750 crore package. “This is fooling the tribal community,” he said at a public meeting in Banswara. Earlier in the day, the Bhil Pradesh Vidhyarthi Morcha organised a march through the city, urging people to gather at the Mela Ground rally in Banswara.Kanakmal Katara of the Adivasi Aarakshan Manch, speaking at a separate event in Banswara, reiterated the demand for a 6.5% sub-quota for southern Rajasthan tribals within the state’s 12% Scheduled Tribe reservation. “Without this, TSP tribals will continue to be deprived of benefits,” Katara said, accusing Meena tribals from eastern Rajasthan of monopolising the quota’s benefits.At block-level programmes organised by political outfits, including the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), activists raised slogans of “TSP pe pehla haq Adivasi ka” (Tribals have the first right on TSP). BTP state president Vela Ram Ghogra alleged that tribals were being denied their rights under the Forest Rights Act. Referring to the Jowar mines project, Ghogra claimed that promises of education and healthcare facilities for local tribals were ignored, while non-tribals settled in the area. “We will soon launch a campaign to evict the Jowar mines,” he warned. Heavy police were deployed at all events anticipating tension with non-tribals.
Tribal groups warn Centre, Raj govt over unmet demands | Jaipur News
