The 20th anniversary of the United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTTA) was commemorated recently with a special programme attended by Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude. During his speech, Gaude emphasized the ongoing struggle for political reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Goa, a key issue that UTTA has been advocating for over two decades. He expressed gratitude towards the central government for moving the legislation forward, particularly the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024, which aims to secure political reservations for STs.

The bill, which has passed initial stages in Parliament, marks significant progress in a long-standing demand. Gaude remarked that although the process would take time, with the census and delimitation procedures ahead, this development was a major milestone in securing justice for the ST communities in Goa.