Guwahati: Tribal organisations in Assam opposed to granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six additional communities submitted their “interim objections and suggestions” to the state government on Thursday, reiterating that they will not support any decision that weakens the safeguards currently provided to existing ST groups.
The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA), an umbrella body of more than 20 groups representing various recognised ST communities, also urged the government to hold a tripartite meeting with the state authorities and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to advance the dialogue.
Last week, a Group of Ministers (GoM) presented an interim report in the state assembly outlining recommendations on the long-pending demand for ST status by the Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribe (Adivasi) communities.
The CCTOA has spearheaded an agitation against the GoM report, claiming that the existing ST communities will be adversely affected if the six communities are included in the reservation category.
“We have placed our concerns to ensure that the rights and benefits of existing ST communities are not compromised. We have sought amendments to the interim report,” CCTOA leader Aditya Khakhlary said.
He added that the committee has submitted an interim set of objections and suggestions, and a final report—reflecting wider consultations with different stakeholders—will be submitted within a month.
Khakhlary further said the CCTOA has demanded talks with the chief minister in the next stage, followed by a tripartite meeting with the state government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a later stage.
He argued that the GoM’s proposal to create a new ST (Valley) category for some of the six communities would fail to safeguard the interests of existing ST groups, noting that at the central level, all Scheduled Tribes fall under a single reservation pool for jobs, education, and other entitlements.
“We have ST (Plains) and ST (Hills) as two sections in the state now. But at the central level, both these come together as ST. If ST (V) is introduced, they will also be subsequently taken in the same ST pool at the national level,” the CCTOA leader stated.
ALSO READ: Bombay NGO to release captive-bred vultures in Assam next month
Khakhlary further emphasised the need for a “very strict and reliable” system of identification and verification if the new communities are to be notified, to ensure that only eligible individuals receive the benefits.
“We remain hopeful. The GoM must ensure that the aboriginal communities do not suffer any loss,” he added.
