Maharashtra panel to study ST benefits after Christian conversion allegations

The state government has constituted a 27-member committee comprising legislators from Scheduled Tribes to examine the legal framework regarding benefits offered to ST individuals after religious conversion. The move comes in the wake of allegations leveled in the Assembly regarding Christian missionaries in Navapur taluka of Nandurbar district.

The decision stems from a caution notice (No. 1773) filed by Anupbhaiyya Agrawal and other members during the 2025 monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The notification stated that Christian religious leaders, missionaries and their institutions in Navapur taluka were using inducements to force tribals and non-tribals to convert.

During the debate on the declaration, members demanded that the privileges given to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes be withdrawn after conversion. Revenue Minister and Tribal Development Minister assured the Assembly that a committee of ST legislators will deliberate on the issue and formulate a policy.

Census 2011 data for Maharashtra shows that the ST population has increased from 85.77 lakh in 2001 to over 1.05 crore. 97.2% of STs identified as Hindu. The census recorded 1.13 lakh Muslims, over 20,000 Christians, around 21,000 Buddhists and smaller numbers of Sikhs and Jains in the ST category.

Between 2001 and 2011, the Muslim ST population increased by 49.1%, Buddhist STs by 114.8% and Jain STs by nearly sixfold. The Christian ST population in the state declined by 34.8% in the same decade.

The committee will be chaired by Mr. Uike. Mr. Indranil Naik, Minister of State for Tribal Development; Mr. Narbhari Zirwal, Minister of Food and Drug Administration; MLAs representing ST constituencies; and Commissioner Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI), Pune, serving as member secretary. The panel consisted of Mr. Amashya Padvi, Mr. Rajesh Padvi and Dr. It consists of 26 MLAs, including Vijaykumar Gavit.

The panel will examine the laws of the Central government and other states regarding the privileges available to ST individuals after conversion. The state government issued a Government Order through the Tribal Development Department to formalize the constitution of the committee. The panel will recommend a comprehensive policy for Maharashtra.