Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan Stages Protest on Hul Divas in Jamshedpur

Group submits 7-point demand letter to President through Deputy Commissioner

Calls for Sarna religious code, tribal language promotion, and development initiatives

JAMSHEDPUR – The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan held a demonstration outside the East Singhbhum district headquarters on Sunday, marking Hul Divas with a list of demands for tribal welfare.

Key demands presented to the Deputy Commissioner include:

1. Implementation of Sarna religious code under Article 25 to prevent tribal conversions

2. Granting Santali first official language status in Jharkhand

3. Appointment of permanent Santali teachers in schools and colleges

4. Promotion of other tribal languages like Ho, Mundari, Kurukh, and Kharia

5. Reforms in tribal self-governance systems

6. Opposition to including Kurmi/Mahato communities in Scheduled Tribe category

7. Creation of trusts for descendants of Sido Murmu and Birsa Munda

"Granting ST status to any community purely for vote bank politics is akin to massacring genuine tribals," a spokesperson stated.

The group also demanded:

– Return of Parasnath Hill to tribal control

– ST status for Jharkhand tribals living in Assam and Andaman Islands for over 200 years

Protesters highlighted concerns about alcoholism, superstition, and women’s rights issues in tribal communities.

They emphasized the need for government support in modernizing tribal self-governance while preserving cultural values.

This demonstration underscores ongoing debates about tribal identity, development, and political representation in Jharkhand.

The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan’s demands reflect complex issues of cultural preservation and socio-economic progress for the state’s tribal population.