Kurmi Community's Prolonged Protest: A Quest for Recognition

The Kurmi community launched a railway blockade in Jharkhand, demanding ST status and recognition of their language. Although most blockades have been withdrawn after assurances from the government, protests continue in select areas. The agitation disrupted rail services, reflecting the community's determination for constitutional acknowledgment.

Agitators from the Kurmi community initiated a substantial railway blockade in Jharkhand, pressing for Scheduled Tribe status and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. This protest was strategically geared towards drawing attention to the community's demands for recognition and equitable treatment.

As of Sunday, the agitators withdrew from most stations following an assurance from the Centre that a meeting will be organized with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, two stations, particularly in Sini and Pradhan Khanta, remain active protest sites pending a confirmed meeting date.

The large-scale agitation, under the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj banner, significantly impacted railway operations, leading to the cancellation and rerouting of over 100 trains, highlighting the intensity and scale of the Kurmi community's unresolved grievances.

(With inputs from agencies.)