A CORRESPONDENT
ORANG: In a strong rebuttal to recent derogatory remarks made against the Keot community, the Udalguri district committee of the Sadou Asom Keot Jatiya Parishad held a press conference on Thursday at the Udalguri Xahitya Xabha Bhawan. Speaking at the event, district President Dilip Bora expressed concern over the opposition shown by certain organizations against the grant of Scheduled Caste (SC) status to the Keot community in Assam by the present state government. “It is unfortunate that despite states like West Bengal and Tripura already recognizing the Keot community under the SC category, Assam continues to deny them the same status,” said Bora.
Highlighting the historical and indigenous roots of the Keot community in Assam, Bora stated that the Keots are one of the oldest and largest communities among the indigenous groups of the state. Traditionally, the Keots are divided into two sub-groups: Halowa Keots, who are engaged in farming and preparing tools for cultivation, and Jalowa Keots, who rely on fishing and related livelihoods, also known as Kaibarta Keots.
Bora said that despite their significant contributions to Assam’s socio-cultural life, the community continues to suffer from socio-economic marginalization. According to statistics shared at the press meet, nearly 80% of the Keot population in Assam lived under severe economic hardship, with very limited access to government welfare schemes and no benefit from reservation policies.
District Secretary Dilip Deka pointed out the irrationality in the government’s policies, stating that while some professional subgroups of the Keot community have been granted SC status, the majority, including Halowa Keots and certain other sub-groups, remain excluded. “It is unjust to provide Scheduled Caste recognition to one section of the same caste while denying the same to others from the same lineage,” Deka emphasized.
The Parishad demanded that the Assam Government not only grant SC status to all sub-groups of the Keot community but also increase the reservation quota and the number of legislative seats reserved for SCs to 15, based on population proportion.
Rubul Das, Central President of the Assam Scheduled Caste Yuba Chatra Parishad, condemned the use of offensive and discriminatory language against members of the Keot community in strong terms. He called for unity and dignity for all castes and communities.
Also present at the press conference were central members Basanta Kumar Bora, Yadav Deka, Prachurya Das, Gajen Deka, and Paresh Baruah.
Also Read: Assam: SC Students’ Protests in Sivasagar Over Welfare Neglect and Keot Inclusion
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