Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The controversy over delimitation has intensified, with the Tribal Students’ Union announcing that it will boycott both the Census and the delimitation exercise if the Sarna religion code is not included as an option in the upcoming Census.
Addressing a press conference, central convener of the Tribal Students’ Union Dr Sushil Kumar Minz alleged that the tribal religion code was removed in 1961 and an “Others” category was introduced. He further alleged that the removal of the “Other Religions” category from the latest Census framework would amount to an attempt to undermine the identity and existence of tribal communities.
Minz claimed that the issue of the Sarna religion code was directly linked to delimitation. According to him, in the absence of a separate tribal religion code, tribal people are being counted under the Hindu religion category, which, he alleged, reduces the recorded tribal population and could have implications for reservation benefits.
He said tribal communities that follow nature-based faith traditions should be provided a separate Sarna religion code, on the lines of the existing codes for Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. He said the demand had already been raised before the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The organisation announced a series of protests under the slogan, “No Sarna religion code, no Census; no Census, no delimitation.” According to Minz, a mega rally opposing delimitation and demanding implementation of the Sarna religion code will begin from Gumla on September 18.
He said an All India Tribal Culture programme would also be organised at Morabadi Maidan in Ranchi on September 13 and 14, with representatives from tribal communities from different states expected to participate. A consensus on the religion code and delimitation issues would be sought during the programme, following which protests would be expanded across the country.
The organisation also announced preparations for a Bharat Bandh and economic blockade. A mega rally has been scheduled at Morabadi Maidan on October 4, where a decision on intensifying the agitation will be taken.
The Tribal Students’ Union also said it would oppose any delimitation legislation introduced or passed by the BJP-led government in Parliament.
