Tribal people under the banner of an apolitical outfit on Thursday hit the streets in 13 Bengal districts with demands that included cancellation of fake Scheduled Tribe certificates and scrapping of the upcoming Deocha-Pachami coal mine in Birbhum.

The Bengal unit of tribal outfit Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal took out processions in multiple districts, including the four Jungle Mahal ones, and held demonstrations outside the offices of district magistrates.

“Fake (ST) certificate holders pose a challenge to our children aspiring to get government jobs or admissions to a good college or university. Many people take advantage of fake certificates. We suspect a racket,” said Rabindranath Murmu, the state secretary of the outfit.

Protesters alleged that in several cases certificates were issued by officials without proper verification of the applicant’s tribal identity.

Protesters also sought the upcoming coal mine in Deocha-Pachami be scrapped as they felt it would harm the tribal people of the area.

In some cases, people hold government jobs reserved for the quota with the help of fake certificates, protesters added.

“We have information that a large number of people from various districts in the state including Nadia, Howrah or Jhargram have been in possession of these fake ST certificates for years. If one of the family members gets such a certificate in a fraudulent way, other members will go on to acquire the same showing the previous one as proof. The state government should initiate action against this,” said Biplab Soren, the Bankura secretary of the Jakat.

Sources said that the state government as well as chief minister Mamata Banerjee were aware of the issue.

Mamata had expressed anguish on this at a meeting of the West Bengal Tribal Development Council after junior forest minister Birbaha Hansda took it up with her last August. She had asked officials of all districts to look into the allegations and take action against those with such fake certificates.

Jhargram district administration had cancelled over 300 such fake certificates in December last year.

Those found to be in possession of fake caste certificates included a high school teacher and even a senior state government official.

“It was found during a survey that a few thousand people possess fake caste certificates. In many cases these persons were found to be enjoying government facilities. The government has ordered cancellation of the certificates but it involves a long administrative process,” said a senior state government official.

The tribal outfit also demanded the government to scrap the proposed Deocha-Pachami coal mine project in Birbhum.

Protesters said they feel the coal mine will harm the lives and livelihood of tribal people staying in the area.

“If our demands are not met, we will start a bigger movement,” said a leader of the outfit.