Soon after he joined a government job as a teacher in Bastar in 2010, Shivprasad Bhoi, now 39, was asked to get his Scheduled Tribe certificate attested. What he then presumed to be a simple exercise turned out to be a nightmare. A spelling variation in the name of his tribe, Sawar, eventually resulted in his dismissal from service 15 months later. He did not get paid for his services during the period and has not found another job ever since.
“Not having my ST certificate turned out to be a huge impediment. Seeking help from government officials and ministers proved futile. I kept insisting I was from the Sawar tribe, but the spelling variation meant nothing could be done. I was left with no choice but to return to farming,” says Mr. Bhoi.
