Tribal community members in Goa narrate their woes to Kejriwal

Panaji, Aug 22 (PTI) Memories of the 2011 tribalagitation which resulted in the death of two young activistscame alive during AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to thevillage of Cauvrem in south Goa. "Two youth were burnt to death just because they wereagitating for their rights. Till date not a single person hasbeen punished for the murder. If tribals raise their voice, itis suppressed using police, and they are murdered," RavindraVelip, a tribal youth activist told Kejriwal yesterday. Two youths–Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip– who werepart of a tribal group that blocked a National Highwaypressing for their 12-point demands were charred to death whena building –Adarsh Co-operative Society–an initiative bytribals, was set on fire after the agitation turned violent in2011. State Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar was also partof the group, which faced resistance from locals, who hadattacked tribals, Velip said. "Police were mute spectators, criminals were neverarrested," he said. Kejriwal who gave a patient hearing to the issues oftribal said, "If voted to power, AAP will punish all those whoare involved in the incident."   At Quepem Municipal Hall yesterday, Kejriwal was all earsfor the community for almost two hours before heading toCauvrem, a village which was amongst the first to witnesstribal protests against mining activities claiming it to beillegal. "There is no voice for tribals of Goa in policy making.Our lands have become playgrounds of the rich," Nilesh Naik,another leader, who was attacked by unknown assailants in 2011for raising the tribal issues, said. Police are yet to identify the assailants who had hitNaik on his neck outside Verna Industrial Estate, where he hadgone for work. "Atrocities on tribals are observed at every step. TheCommission for Scheduled Tribes has power but is controlled bypoliticians. Dozens of cases are pending before theCommission," Velip said. Goa has 89 per cent literacy rate but it is less than40 per cent amongst tribals. "Very few tribal students choose higher and technicaleducation," he added. PTI RPS DK        SRYRYS