“I wanted the certificate so that I could apply to the PTC College here and avail some scholarship,” said Payal. She went to the Social Welfare Department in Godhra thrice with the hope that the department may consider her case, but in vain.

Despite being Bhil tribesmen, their applications are turned down by the officials when they fail to meet the requirements. They now plan to challenge it in the courts of Gujarat. “Apart from asking for proof whether we were recognised in 1961 when the Gujarat state came into being, we are also supposed to comply with one of the most absurd demands—we should marry within our own tribe. If found that we have not done so, our application would be rejected,” said Asari, while Payal sitting next to him was filling up the form about her lineage to see if one of her grandparents or great grandparents (both paternal and maternal) had married out of the community.

Meanwhile, Asari, with the help of RTI, managed to get an important document so that they can challenge this order in court. “As per Presidential Order made on August 10, 1950, which was also cited in a Government Resolution (GR5-1099-2084-9 date: 19/12/2001), by the department of social justice, even for Scheduled Tribes that have migrated from outside (rest of India), government officials must give them certificates if and when necessary,” added Asari.