Maharashtra forms 27-member panel on ST benefits after religious conversion
The Maharashtra government has constituted a 27-member high-level committee to examine whether Scheduled Tribes (ST) community members should continue receiving government benefits and reservations after converting to another religion. The decision follows intense legislative discussions regarding alleged religious conversions in the Navapur taluka of Nandurbar district.
The Tribal Development Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) to officially announce the formation of the panel. The committee is tasked with studying existing Central and state laws to recommend a comprehensive policy for Maharashtra regarding the eligibility of converted ST individuals for welfare benefits.
The move was initiated after debates during the 2025 Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislature. During the session, BJP MLA Anupbhaiya Agrawal and other state legislators raised concerns over alleged religious conversions in Navapur taluka. The legislators claimed that tribal communities were being converted through inducements by Christian missionaries and associated organisations, and they subsequently demanded the withdrawal of tribal welfare benefits post-conversion.
In response to these concerns, the then Revenue Minister, who also held charge of the Tribal Development Department, assured the House that a committee of Scheduled Tribe legislators would be formed to investigate the issue. The newly constituted panel fulfils that assurance.
Tribal Development Minister Prof. Dr. Ashok Uike will chair the newly formed committee, with Minister of State Indranil Naik serving as the Vice-Chairman. The 27-member panel also includes Minister Narhari Zirwal, and MLAs Dharmaraobaba Atram, Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit, Amshya Padvi, and Manjula Gavit. In total, 22 legislators representing Scheduled Tribes are part of the panel.
The Commissioner of the Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI) in Pune has been appointed as the Member Secretary for the committee.
The panel is expected to undertake a detailed legal and policy review before submitting its final recommendations to the state government. These recommendations could shape future policies on reservation and welfare benefits for converted tribal individuals in Maharashtra.
