NEW DELHI, SEP 19 (PTI): Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey on Saturday said the issue of religious conversions in tribal areas needed to be viewed in the context of protecting tribal communities and their traditional way of life.
The minister was speaking at the release of the ‘Sanskritik Samagam Visheshank’ at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here
The publication, released by the Delhi unit of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Vanbandhu Media Foundation, documents the Janjati Sanskritik Samagam organised at the Red Fort grounds on May 24.
The May event was organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Janjati Suraksha Manch to mark the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda and was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Saturday’s event was centred on tribal identity, cultural unity and preservation of traditional faith and customs. Concerns over religious conversion and the demand for delisting converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list also figured among the issues.
“The tribal society has played an important role in India’s social and cultural development, and that contribution is visible before all of us,” Uikey said.
He stressed the need to understand the tribal society in the context of its traditions, values and social structure.
On concerns over religious conversion in tribal areas, the minister said the issue needed to be viewed in the context of protecting tribal communities, their identity and traditional way of life.
He also referred to instances where land and other resources were allegedly being used in connection with conversion activities.
Bhagwan Sahay, all-India co-organising secretary of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, described the May 24 gathering as a historic and unprecedented mobilisation of tribal communities.
He said the programme was followed by meetings of a Janajati Suraksha Manch delegation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.
The delegation sought an amendment to or clarification under Article 342 of the Constitution stating that tribal people who convert to another religion would cease to enjoy the ST status and associated benefits. It also sought delisting of converted tribals from the ST list, Sahay said.
Article 342 empowers the president to specify the tribes or tribal communities that are deemed to be STs in relation to various states and Union territories.
Sahay said the delegation also met President Murmu, who described the issues raised as important for society and the unity and integrity of the country.
Sachchidanand Joshi, member-secretary of IGNCA and guest editor of the publication, said it documented the May 24 gathering, as well as the extensive preparations that preceded it.
“Perhaps no one had imagined that members of the tribal community from across the country would gather in such large numbers in Delhi and present such a beautiful and disciplined gathering that it would become an example for the entire world,” Joshi said.
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