"We still do not have any status. Every time we make a representation to the authorities they just tell us one thing, repeatedly: 'please provide us documents'," said Manu Thori, of Thori Samaj Yuvak Mandal.
Thori narrated the community's plight before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) delegation, headed by Chairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan, during an open hearing session for the NGOs here.
"We have been awarded a certificate by a concerned state agency stating that we don't fall under other backward class (OBC) category," Thori claimed, adding that the community figured at 27th number in Government of India's gazette notification on Scheduled Castes.
"Around 3,642 Thori community members from 700-800 families across Sabarkantha district are yet to get caste certificates.
"In 2004, Gujarat government had placed us amongst the very backward class category vide a gazette notification, but despite that we have not been awarded the caste certificates yet," he claimed.
NHRC member Justice B C Patel assured that a solution would be found. "We think this problem can be sorted out in a short time," Patel said.
