Central Kolkata witnessed significant traffic congestion on Tuesday after a series of political rallies organized by Adivasi communities brought the city's key arteries to a crawl. The demonstrations, which saw a large gathering march from Howrah Station to the city centre, were held to place a set of demands before the authorities, primarily concerning the protection of tribal identity and rights.
Mass Gathering and Core Demands
Nearly 8,000 members from various tribal organisations assembled under the banner of the United Forum of All Adibasi Organisations (UFAAO) at Rani Rashmani Road. The primary demand put forth was a firm opposition to granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to non-tribal communities, with specific mention of the Kudmi community in West Bengal. The Kudmis have long sought ST recognition, which they assert was lost after India's independence.
Another key demand was the inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Representatives emphasised that this inclusion is crucial for the preservation and official recognition of their linguistic heritage.
Major Traffic Disruptions Across City Centre
The march caused substantial disruption to Kolkata's daily commute. To facilitate the movement of the demonstrators, traffic on the iconic Howrah Bridge was completely shut down for 30 minutes. The procession moved from the station to RR Avenue via Brabourne Road.
In the heart of the city, traffic moved at a snail's pace for at least two hours, with severe congestion reported on major thoroughfares. The worst-affected areas included:
- Howrah Bridge
- Strand Road
- Brabourne Road
- Esplanade Crossing
The stretch between Howrah Station and Tea Board, and later RR Avenue, remained particularly slow throughout the event.
Voices from the Rally and Broader Concerns
Leaders of the tribal forum were vocal about their stance. Mitan Tudu, the working president of the UFAAO, drew parallels to recent protests in Jharkhand, stating, "You saw how the tribals in Jharkhand took to the streets. There is an attempt by non-tribal organisations to be given ST status, and we opposed that." He further expanded the language demand, calling for the inclusion of Koda, Mahali, Munda, Ho, and Sadari languages in the Eighth Schedule alongside Kurmali.
Ramdas Kisku, the organisation's convenor, raised serious allegations about the misuse of ST certificates. He claimed that individuals from non-tribal castes are fraudulently obtaining ST certificates and demanded the formation of an enquiry commission to investigate the matter. Kisku also stressed the need for proper implementation of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, a landmark legislation meant to safeguard the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
The rally underscores the ongoing tensions and debates surrounding tribal identity, reservation policies, and cultural recognition in the region, bringing these issues directly to the administrative capital of West Bengal.
