Times News NetworkMargao: The Union ministry of tribal affairs has rejected state govt’s long-standing proposal to include the Gouly-Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribes list of Goa.The rejection, communicated through a letter addressed to state govt’s director of social welfare, came after the office of the registrar general of India (ORGI) twice declined to support the proposal—the second time as recently as March 24.Goa had first submitted the proposal for inclusion of the Gouly-Dhangar community in the ST list in July 2021. The ORGI, however, did not support the proposal, following which state govt furnished additional information and clarification in Dec 2023, which was forwarded to the RGI in March 2024.The RGI again declined to back the proposal in June 2024, upon which Goa’s letter of Sep 2, 2024 was referred afresh to the ORGI for examination. In its latest response dated March 24, 2026, the RGI reiterated its earlier position, refusing to endorse Goa’s case for the second time.Responding to media queries, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that they are in dialogue with the community chiefs.The ministry invoked a certain provision in modalities governing ST list modifications which states that if the RGI does not agree with state govt or UT administration’s point of view on a second reference, govt of India may consider rejection of the proposal. Acting on this provision, the Centre formally rejected the Gouly-Dhangar inclusion bid.The modalities, originally approved on June 15, 1999, and subsequently amended in 2002 and 2022, require any such proposal to first be recommended by state govt, then concurred with by both the RGI and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) before it can proceed to legislative amendment. In the Gouly-Dhangar case, the proposal could not clear the RGI hurdle on either occasion.The rejection is a significant setback for the Gouly-Dhangar community, which had been hoping for inclusion in the ST list. Community members came together at Borda-Margao on Sunday and expressed their disappointment over the development. Addressing reporters after the meeting, former minister and President of the Gomantak Dhangar Samajonnati Mandal, Goa, Chandrakant Kavlekar, said that a delegation will soon meet the CM requesting him to prevail upon the Centre for a review of its decision.
