Tinderbox of Discontent: Kurmis Reignite ST Status Demand, Threatening Widespread Blockades Across Three States

A brewing storm is once again threatening to engulf West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha as the Kurmi community intensifies its long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. With calls for massive rail and road blockades looming large, state governments, particularly the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, find themselves on high alert, facing a volatile situation with significant political ramifications.

The Kurmi community’s agitation is far from new.

It's a deeply rooted demand stemming from their assertion that they were historically recognized as a tribal group but were erroneously de-listed in 1950 and subsequently classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. They argue vehemently that this reclassification stripped them of their rightful identity and benefits.

Their contention rests on distinct cultural markers: the Kurmali language, which they claim is unique to their community, and the adherence to the traditional Sarna faith, a form of nature worship distinct from mainstream Hinduism. These, they assert, are definitive proofs of their tribal characteristics, setting them apart from other OBC groups.

The stakes are incredibly high.

The Kurmis represent a significant demographic force in regions like West Bengal's Jungle Mahal, and their collective voice carries immense electoral weight. Both the TMC and the BJP are acutely aware that alienating this community could prove disastrous in upcoming elections. Past protests have already demonstrated the Kurmis' capacity for disruption, with extensive blockades in 2022 and 2023 crippling rail and road networks for days, causing widespread economic and logistical havoc.

Despite repeated recommendations from the West Bengal government to the Centre for the Kurmis' inclusion in the ST list, the Registrar General of India (RGI) has consistently rejected the proposals.

The RGI’s stance is that the community’s characteristics do not align with the established criteria for Scheduled Tribe status, which typically includes .