Free tribal belts & blocks from encroachers: CCTOA

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Extending its support to the latest Bodoland Accord, the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) has raised the demand for making all tribal belts and blocks in the State free from encroachment.

The CCTOA held its special convention in Guwahati on Friday where it took a slew of resolutions, besides urging the government to solve the problems afflicting the tribal people in the State.

Addressing the media after the convention, CCTOA chief coordinator Aditya Khakhlari said, “We support the Accord for the proposed BTR. However, still there are a lot of problems concerning the tribal people of the State. Freeing tribal blocks and belts from encroachers has been our long-standing demand. The officials involved in illegal transfer of land in such belts and blocks and their mutation should be made accountable. The Revenue and Disaster Management department should implement an order issued by the Gauhati High Court on a PIL regarding eviction of encroachers from tribal belts and blocks in the State. The autonomous councils like that of Tiwa, Mising, Rabha, Sonowal Kachari, Deuri and Thengal Kachari should be given constitutional status. An autonomous council should also be formed for Bodo-Kacharis, Hasongs, Mechs, Sarania Kacharis, Modahis and Plain Karbis living outside the proposed BTR. An ST district autonomous council for the Tirap community should also be formed in Tinsukia district. ”

The other demands raised at the convention are land rights for traditional forest dwellers in accordance with the relevant Act, filling up of the backlog posts for ST, exclusion of all tribal areas from the proposed area for the expansion of the State Capital, rolling back the move for according ST status to the six ethnic groups etc.

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