Act fast to grant us our rights, Hattis urge govt

Shimla, August 3
Urging the state and Central governments to take necessary action to grant them their rights, the Hatti community has demanded immediate intervention from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in this matter.
Addressing the media here today, president of the Shimla unit of Hatti Committee, Dr Ramesh Singhta said the matter of Hatti’s rights in the Giripar region of Himachal Pradesh had once again gained momentum.
“After a prolonged phase of delays and complications, there are signs of progress, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has once again strongly supported the Hatti community,” he added.
“Despite the Scheduled Tribes (Amendment) Act, thousands of students are still not qualifying for jobs. On August 4, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu had issued a notification recognising the community as Scheduled Tribe. But even after a year, the community remains deprived of its constitutional and legal rights,” he said.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had recommended granting the ST status to the Hatti community in 1979, but this recommendation was not implemented by the Central government, with the file remaining suppressed for decades, he said. — TNS