Various tribal organizations and community leaders met in the Kala and Sanskriti Bhawan in Sonua block, West Singhbhum district, to discuss their opposition to the proposed inclusion of the Kudmi and Mahato communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The meeting was chaired by Uday Purti.
Following discussions, a decision was made to move the date of the Manoharpur assembly-level Janakrosh rally. Originally planned for October 12th in Goilkera, the rally will now be held on October 18th at the Sonua block headquarters. This rescheduling was necessary because of a large-scale event scheduled in Goilkera on October 14th, commemorating the martyrdom day of Veer Shahid Devendra Majhi.
The meeting also resolved to launch a village-level awareness drive to encourage greater participation in the upcoming rally. A key aspect of the decision was to ensure the rally would be conducted peacefully and democratically, with the aim of ensuring their voices were heard by the authorities.
Pator Joko, president of the Adivasi Samaj Mahasabha and Adivasi Samanvay Samiti, expressed that the demand to include the Kudmi, Mahato communities in the Scheduled Tribe is unsupported by facts or history. He indicated that it threatens the identity, rights, and recognition of the tribal community, framing their opposition as a commitment to safeguarding their identity and future.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to keep the movement non-violent and inclusive of all sections of society.
Those in attendance included Dr. Dinesh Chandra Boypai, Mahendra Jamuda, Govinda Jamuda, Kedarnath Nayak, Hemant Soren, Ganesh Chandra Bodra, Budhlal Purti, Manoj Nayak, Janki Hembrom, Surya Bahanda, Siddharth Bodra, Jaypal Hembrom, and other notable figures.