THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Dec. 11: The long-standing demand to delist Christian tribal converts from the reservation list resurfaced strongly on Friday as the Central Sarna Committee staged a major protest in front of Lok Bhavan. The protest, led by committee president Phoolchand Tirkey, focused on what the group calls the “double benefits” received by tribal converts under government schemes and reservation quotas.
The demonstration began with a traditional puja performed by the priest. During the event, the Committee’s women’s wing President Nisha Bhagat shaved her head, making a bold symbolic statement against what she described as the continued exploitation of benefits meant for the “original tribal” community.
Sarna Committee: ‘Conversions Should Mean Delisting’
Speakers at the protest said Jharkhand, a tribal-dominated state, is witnessing an increase in cases where converted tribals continue to access tribal reservations and schemes. According to President Phoolchand Tirkey, tribal identity is rooted in traditional customs and practices, and those who leave these practices after converting to another religion should be removed from the Scheduled Tribe list.
Allegations of Misuse of Certificates
Social activist Jai Mangal Oraon alleged that some Muslim families marry tribal girls and later obtain caste and residential certificates from the girls’ families, gaining access to benefits originally intended for the tribal community.
PESA Act Still Pending in Jharkhand
Women’s President Nisha Bhagat said Jharkhand is a Fifth Schedule state, yet the PESA Act has still not been implemented. She claimed that Christian converts continue to receive tribal reservations and are becoming ministers, MPs, and MLAs, which she said affects the rights of non-converted tribal communities.
Several leaders, including Sanjay Tirkey, Angel Lakra, Nira Toppo, Pramod Ekka, Vinay Oraon, Pancham Tirkey, Sohan Kachhap, and Handu Bhagat, were present at the protest.