STs of Andhra Pradesh would stage demonstrations at all ITDAs and district Collectorates on Monday seeking strict action against persons using fake ST certificates.
Protests are being as part of a campaign to highlight the plight of members of Scheduled Tribes, Girijan Aikya Vedika (GAV) working president Vivek Vinayak told The Hindu .
The GAV is demanding that the government take a serious view of the issue of bogus ST certificates. They wanted the government to constitute special courts to deal with it. Further, they wanted recovery of benefits accrued by persons using the bogus ST certificate.
“It is unfortunate that even after six decades of Independence, we, tribal persons, continue to suffer at the hands of outsiders and there is little being done to protect our interests,” he pointed out.
He demanded strict implementation of the Act 16 of 1993 of the Government of AP on regularisation of issue of SC, ST and backward class certificates. The Act provides for jail for the person using a bogus certificate and also punishment for the officer responsible for issue, he said.
The Girijana Aikya Vedika is organising a day long discussion on implementation of rule of reservation for SC/ ST in Central and State governments at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad on April 24 as part of the celebrations of 125{+t}{+h}birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, he said.
The GAV is demanding that the government take a serious view of the issue of bogus ST certificates