Bankura: Adivasis demand verification of ST certificates; allegation of large-scale corruption grows
Bankura (Bengal): A massive gathering of around 10,000 Adivasis in Bankura on November 18 renewed a strong demand for a statewide Special Intensive Revision — not of electoral rolls, but of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates issued over the past 12 years in West Bengal. The rally, held at Bankura Sammilani College and reported by The Wire, brought together members of the Santhal, Bhumij, Kora and Munda communities from across the Jangal Mahal region, who alleged rampant corruption in the granting of ST certificates under the state administration.
The event was organised by the Adivasi Kalyan Samiti (AKS), which said that widespread misuse of tribal certification has allowed non-tribals to secure educational seats and government jobs meant for tribal communities. According to AKS leaders, the alleged irregularities span not only the tribal-majority districts of Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, but extend to several other parts of the state.
Participants at the rally said the issue goes beyond certificates, affecting dignity, identity and cultural survival. Many announced that they were prepared for a sustained struggle. “We have survived after enduring much injustice and suffering. No more…” said Biplab Saren of Raipur, who demanded that the state and Union governments protect the constitutional rights of tribal communities.
AKS state secretary Parshal Kishku alleged that non-tribals had been systematically issued ST certificates due to corruption and political patronage. He pointed out that until 2011, West Bengal had issued around 52 lakh ST certificates. But between 2012 and 2024, the state issued an additional 27 lakh certificates. “Does Bengal have nearly 80 lakh tribal residents?” he asked, noting that population data from the 2011 Census places the tribal population at 52,96,963.
Those gathered questioned how such a sharp rise could occur despite natural population changes through births and deaths. Many saw this as clear evidence of manipulation in the distribution of ST certificates.
There have been several recent instances of alleged misuse. Earlier this year, a fourth-year medical student at Bankura Sammilani Medical College was stripped of her admission after tribal groups flagged her ST certificate as fraudulent. In January 2024, the CBI launched an investigation into alleged certificate fraud in medical college admissions, a probe that has since widened. Another series of cases surfaced in September 2025.
Speaking at the rally, AKS leader Rajeswar Tudu said the problem is far more widespread than isolated incidents. “Fake Scheduled Tribe certificates are circulating across the state… a statewide SIR should be conducted,” he said.
Adivasi leaders also raised concerns about the refusal of the Union government to recognise their indigenous religious identities. “We are worshipers of nature. We follow the Sari and Sarna religions. But the Union government does not want to acknowledge this,” said Nibaran Kishku of Hooghly. Several participants said the RSS has been attempting to portray tribal communities as forest-dwelling Hindus. They also alleged that RSS-run schools in the region are promoting Hindu religious practices among tribal children.
Another pressing issue raised at the meeting was the deteriorating state of education in Jangal Mahal. Locals said many middle schools established during Left rule have shut down as teachers who retired were never replaced. Students must now travel long distances through forests and hills to attend school, pushing many to drop out and migrate for work.
Schools dedicated to teaching the Santali language in the Alchiki script are also struggling due to a shortage of teachers. Residents said the state’s Utsashree transfer scheme has led to a mass relocation of teachers out of the region, worsening the student–teacher ratio.
Tribal hostels, once a backbone of education support in the region, have also declined. Out of nearly 1,000 hostels that once functioned across the four Jangal Mahal districts, residents say fewer than 300 remain operational. “My son had to leave his studies and migrate as a labourer,” said Lakshmi Hansda from Saltora, who came to the rally demanding that the hostels be reopened.
Livelihood issues were also highlighted. Many women said that the collapse of LAMPS — the Large Multipurpose Co-operative Society centres where forest produce like tendu leaves were once sold — has wiped out a crucial income source.
Concerns were also raised about the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Participants said applications for land rights have been pending for years in block and welfare department offices. They accused both the state and Union governments of neglecting Adivasi land rights.
On land acquisition, AKS’s Rajeswar Tudu pointed to the Deucha Pachami coal project in Birbhum, claiming that large parts of the land earmarked belong to tribal communities. He said that similar land transfers were happening in the Ayodhya Hills region of Purulia as well. “Why this double standard by the chief minister?” he asked.
Throughout the gathering, one message resonated strongly: the tribal communities of Jangal Mahal demanded the restoration of their constitutional and cultural rights, and accountability for the alleged misuse of ST certificates.
“Stop depriving us. Restore to indigenous people the rights that rightfully belong to them,” attendees said as the rally concluded.
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Indigo flights chaos: SCR to run special trains to clear passenger rush
Hyderabad (PTI): The South Central Railway on Saturday announced that it would run four special trains to manage the surge in passengers resulting from the large-scale cancellation of IndiGo flights here.
The move comes as flyers face significant disruption and long queues at the airport due to the cancellation.
A press release from the SCR said it is running the special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers to Chennai, Mumbai and Shalimar (Kolkata) from Hyderabad today.
Meanwhile, as many as 43 outbound Indigo flights were cancelled from here on Saturday, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport sources said.
Similarly, 26 incoming flights are also likely to be cancelled during the day, they said.
The flight cancellations drew ire from passengers, who thronged the IndiGo counters at the airport demanding to know the exact situation.
“This is utter nonsense! Digiyatra done, message received that departure has been rescheduled ahead of the scheduled departure and now upon arriving at Hyderabad airport coming to know at the security checkpoint that Indigo flight is cancelled,” Tarun Singha, former Ministry of Defence spokesperson said in a post on X.
“But the thing is if you don’t shout they do nothing. Example at Hyderabad Airport, there was no staff no flight information for an hour. Then a fellow passenger started shouting on mic and an Indigo staff appeared finally,” a netizen said in a post.
On Friday, when IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights from across airports, its CEO Pieter Elbers apologised in a video message for the major inconvenience caused to passengers due to the disruptions.
In the one-way video communication, Elbers also said that the airline was expecting fewer than 1,000 flights on Saturday.
