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Anpara/Sonbhadra-

In various districts of Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh – Kushinagar, Deoria, Ballia, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Mau, Azamgarh, Sonbhadra, a total of 17 districts including ‘Gond’ and ‘Kharwar’ Scheduled Tribes are facing a public agitation regarding the serious cases of making fake caste certificates. This campaign and program is being led by social activist Harinath Kharwar, who has been continuously fighting for a long time to protect the constitutional rights of the Scheduled Tribe community, to oppose fake caste certificates and to provide justice to the real tribals.

They allege that for the last 30-35 years, people of other castes are systematically making fake certificates of ‘Gond’ and ‘Kharwar’ (ST) by hiding their actual caste, due to which the youth of the genuine tribal community have been deprived of the rights of education, admission in higher education institutions and reservation in government jobs. Representatives of the tribal society associated with this movement under the leadership of Shri Harinath Kharwar have demanded from the state government that immediate, transparent and strict action should be taken in this serious matter to protect the rights granted by the Constitution.

Main points of the movement –

• Due to fake certificates, there has been a direct violation of the constitutional rights of the tribal society.

• Ineligible people are taking benefits of Scheduled Tribe welfare schemes.

• Despite instructions from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (C&LM Division), Government of India, effective action has not been taken so far.

Main demands of tribals in the movement-

• ‘Gond’ and ‘Kharwar’ caste certificates issued in the last 35 years should be examined by a high level or special committee.

• The certificates of the persons found guilty should be immediately canceled and FIR should be registered against them under the relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code.

• Complete compliance of the instructions given by the Honorable Supreme Court in Madhuri Patil vs. Additional Commissioner case should be ensured.

• An independent vigilance cell should be formed in each concerned district, which will include DSP/ASP level police officers, research officers knowledgeable in tribal matters and local police officers.

• To maintain the impartiality of the investigation, no revenue or serving administrative officer should be included in the vigilance cell.