The Karnataka Rajya Talawar Mahasabha is strongly urging the state government to immediately resume the issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to its community members. They contend that ongoing, unnecessary delays and administrative hurdles are unfairly preventing them from accessing their rightful benefits.
During a press conference held in Kalaburagi on Monday, Mahasabha district president Chandrakant Talawar, alongside member Rajendra Rajawal, directly criticized Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge. They accuse the Minister of stalling the certificate issuance process under ‘flimsy grounds’.
Mr. Talawar highlighted that despite presenting compelling evidence and references indicating that the Talawar community already receives ST certificates in numerous other districts, authorities in Kalaburagi district have inexplicably halted this process. He emphasized that no valid explanation has been provided for this abrupt cessation.
“We’ve shown proof of ST certificates being granted to Talawar community members elsewhere, yet the Minister continues to offer excuses and has failed to deliver justice to the people of Kalaburagi district,” Chandrakant Talawar asserted.
Further, Mr. Talawar accused local officials, particularly the Kalaburagi Tahsildar, of intentionally impeding the process. He stressed that withholding these crucial ST certificates has directly impacted hundreds of families, jeopardizing their access to vital opportunities in education, employment, and various welfare programs.
The community leaders were keen to clarify that their demand for ST certificates should not be conflated with the concerns of other communities falling under the Koli Kabbaliga category. They emphasized that these are distinct issues.
Mr. Talawar reminded the government that the Talawar community’s inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list was a result of a constitutional amendment. Therefore, he argued, the government is obligated to uphold and implement this constitutional provision without further delay.
Finally, Mahasabha members appealed to Minister Priyank Kharge to organize a meeting with both the district administration and Talawar community representatives. Their goal is to collectively review the situation and find an effective resolution to this pressing issue.