Kurmis file application in HC for ST recognition

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: The Kurmi Sena has filed an application in the High Court for recognition of the community in the list of Schedule Tribes (ST). The application has been accepted by the HC (number WPC 509/2019). This information was given at a press conference at Sonari by Kurmi Sena patron Ratan Mahto and central president Shailendra Mahto.

They said that the Kurmis originally featured in the ST schedule but in 1950, due to some conspiracy, were taken out of the list. Since then, the members of this community, they said, had been fighting for their denied rights in different modes.

Shailendra Mahto said that the Kurmis were worshippers of nature. �We are demanding for the inclusion of Kurmis in the category of Schedule Tribes not for the purposes of seeking jobs but for protecting our identity. Much political games have been played for getting our votes but every time we have been disillusioned. This time we decided to knock on the Supreme Court doors.�

The Kurmi Sena has submitted a 400 pages document comprising state and centre papers to prove that the community was originally in the list of ST.
Other Sena members present at the press meet were Manik Mahto, Shailendra Mahto (Jr), Ram Prasad Mahto and Jaidev Mahto.