A meeting was held in the West Singhbhum district at the Kala and Sanskriti Bhawan in Sonua block premises. It involved various tribal organizations and public representatives who gathered to protest the proposal to include the Kudmi and Mahato communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The meeting was chaired by Uday Purti.
It was decided that the Manoharpur assembly-level Janakrosh rally, initially slated for October 12 in Goilkera, will now take place on October 18 at the Sonua block headquarters. The change of date was due to a major event in Goilkera on October 14, the Shaheed Diwas of Veer Shaheed Devendra Majhi.
The meeting also decided to organize a village-level awareness campaign to encourage maximum participation in the upcoming rally. The rally will be peaceful and democratic, but its message will be made clear so that the authorities cannot ignore it.
According to Pator Joko, President of the Adivasi Samaj Mahasabha and Adivasi Samanvay Samiti, the demand to include the Kudmi and Mahato communities in the Scheduled Tribe list lacks historical and factual basis. This is a direct threat to the identity, rights, and recognition of the tribal community. He emphasized that it’s not only a protest but also a commitment to defend their identity and future.
The meeting unanimously agreed that the movement would be non-violent and would strive to engage all segments of society.
Among those present were Dr. Dinesh Chandra Boypai, Mahendra Jamuda, Govinda Jamuda, Kedarnath Nayak, Hemant Soren, Ganesh Chandra Bodra, Budh Lal Purti, Manoj Nayak, Janki Hembrom, Surya Bahanda, Siddharth Bodra, and Jaipal Hembrom.