CCTOA opposes ST status for 6 communities of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) has opposed grant of ST status to the six communities of Assam - Koch-Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran and Tea tribes.

Addressing the media after a meeting of CCTOA constituents on Monday, the organization's chief convenor Aditya Khakhlari said that these communities have high populations and are quite developed. If they are given ST status, then the existing STs of Assam will suffer politically, educationally and socially and face destruction. He said that if ST status is granted to these six communities, then the existing STs will not have a single elected representative from the Gram Sabha to Lok Sabha levels. Khakhlari said that existing STs will also face hurdles in securing admission to institutes of higher education as well in the sphere of employment.

He said that grant of ST status the six communities will destroy Chapter 10 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulations, which provides for protection of tribal belts and blocks. He said that the recent peace pact with five militant organizations of the Adivasi community is a welcome development, but the pact mentions grant of ST status. He queried as to why no discussion was held with the existing STs before the issue was mentioned in the peace treaty.

Khakhlari said that the Registrar General of India and the national ST Commission had eight times rejected the State Government's proposal regarding grant of ST status to the six communities, because of non-fulfillment of criteria set down in the Constitution.

Khakhlari said that the CCTOA wants that the six communities should be given adequate facilities as OBCs, but not at the cost of depriving the existing ST (Plains).

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