The message of the Chairperson, Advisory Committee

It was in the days of the early COVID-19 pandemic situation when everything was locked down, and people were asked to remain behind closed doors to avoid physical contacts from the common civil society. In those days like many of you, it was also difficult for me to sit idle day after day. At that time, the only means of engagements were mostly watching news bulletins on television and a mobile handset to pass the leisure hours besides reading newspapers and story books.

I had a latent aspiration to show my literary creative work in Santali literature through social media, but I couldn’t do it, because when I entered the social media platform much earlier than the pandemic situation, I observed a big problem that was in circulation through social media network. I saw many candidates with non-tribal surnames were getting selected to the ST category reserved seats from the merit list of various competitive examinations and college admission tests. Seeing such a big number of suspicious STs, I was very much shocked and couldn’t keep quiet. It kept on worrying me day after day, and I was literally wondering to find out some means, as to how this injustice can be checked. I thought of doing something about this grave issue concerning our society, “It can no longer be tolerated, something has to be done, otherwise our next generations will suffer a great loss.”

I contacted some of our tribal organizations over the telephone with requests to take steps against fake ST casteism. But at that time nobody showed that much interest in this regard. Subsequently, I decided that at any cost an organization must be formed which will work against the fake ST casteism issue across the state of West Bengal and will strive to protect the Reservations for the genuine Scheduled Tribe communities. In the meantime, Mr. Som Murmu, my Facebook friend from Burdwan came in contact with me and inspired me as well. We had discussions on the issue and thought about how to move ahead with the idea.

Meanwhile, I started writing article after article on the serious consequences of this fake ST casteism describing the harmful effect that will come upon our future generation youths and the entire Scheduled Tribe communities of West Bengal. Eventually, I appealed to my Facebook friends and followers, requesting them to provide the phone number of those who are interested to form an organization and willing to fight against fake ST casteism. It was very surprising that within two-three days, around 200 people showed their interest and provided their phone numbers too. After this incident, I was determined to build up an association with fellow members of the tribal communities. We started our journey, and created a new WhatsApp group, namely “Fight for ST Reservation”. Article writings and phone calls were going on simultaneously hand in hand. I was happy that some active and efficient friends from near and far came forward to materialize our dreams. We initiated contact with each other through Google Meetings. And finally, we were able to register the ‘ WEST BENGAL SCHEDULED TRIBE WELFARE ASSOCIATION (WBSTWA)’ on the 21st of December, 2020 at Durgapur with the help of our very efficient and dedicated friends, viz. Sri Parsal Kisku, Sri. Mitan Chandra Tudu, Sri Paresh Nath Murmu, Sri Som Murmu, and myself along with Sri Pankaj Kumar Soren, Sri Shib Sankar Hansda, Sri Dhananjoy Murmu, Sri Durgadas Soren, Sri Sanjoy Kumar Tudu and Sri Rakesh Hansda, all together as the “Founder Members”. Though some of our friends have parted from the association, but we are gaining strength day by day with the joining of more and more sincere and motivated members from all professions including social activists and lay people.

This Association is a voluntary, membership based, non-political, secular, and social welfare organization for all the 40 (forty) numbers of tribal community people enlisted in the Scheduled Tribe list of communities in the state of West Bengal. From the very inception of this Association, we have been tirelessly working against suspicious/fake STs and we have already achieved some remarkable success in our continuous struggle for legitimate and constitutional rights of the Adivasi people.

Besides our Central Committee at state level, this Association has its District Committees in 17 districts of West Bengal. viz. Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Midnapore, Jhargram, Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur having its total membership around 900 plus people working across the state of West Bengal. Soon, its unit will reach out to the uncovered districts with its footprint present on all squares of the state of West Bengal. Though, within a short period of time, this Association has already touched the hearts of the entire Adivasi community people across various cultural, religious, and political boundary lines.

I hope that a day will come when more and more well-wishers will join this Association and their small individual support and efforts put together will certainly get rid of us from the big challenges that our tribal society is facing at present in West Bengal.

I wish you all the very best in the Adivasi fraternity.

Adivasi Unity! Zindabad! Long live! WBSTWA!

With thanks and Johar!

Balakram Saren

Chairperson, Advisory Committee

West Bengal Scheduled Tribe Welfare Association (WBSTWA) Date: 14-02-2023

Place: Durgapur, West Bengal