Pangwals demand commission for STs

Scheduled Tribes (ST) community in Himachal Pradesh, particularly the Pangwal tribe, has intensified its demand for the establishment of The Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Tribes to address their socio-economic concerns and safeguard their constitutional rights.

This demand follows the model of the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes, established in 2016, which received widespread appreciation for addressing issues faced by the Scheduled Caste community. Tribal leaders believe a similar body dedicated to the Scheduled Tribes is long overdue.

On behalf of the tribal people of Himachal, Trilok Thakur, chairman of Pangwal Ekta Manch, has written to the chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasising the urgent need for the commission.

“The establishment of the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Tribes is not just a demand; it is a necessity for our survival and progress. It will ensure that policies and programmes meant for our welfare are implemented effectively and that our unique cultural and economic challenges are addressed,” Thakur wrote.

Himachal Pradesh has a significant tribal population, with 3,92,126 Scheduled Tribes residents as per the 2011 census. These communities are concentrated in five Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas of Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul, Pangi and Bharmour, which span a geographical area of 23,655 sq km, accounting for 42.49 per cent of the state’s total area.