Dispur to submit a report on ST status to 6 communities of State to Centre by January

GUWAHATI: The State Government would submit the recommendation of Group of Ministers for giving Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to 6 communities of the State to the Central Government within January. Moreover, Rs 125 crore would be provided to each of the communities of Ahom, Chutia, Moran and Motok covering four districts in the state for generating self- employment opportunities, infrastructure development, preservation of monuments and archaeological heritage etc, a press release said.

On the other hand, autonomous council would be constituted for Koch Rajbangshi community in the undivided Goalpara district along with autonomous councils for Moran and Motok communities in the State. One extra seat would also be allotted for Moran community in a medical college of the state. Fund would be provided by the State government for making a documentary on the life and works of Raghab Moran.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal gave these assurances today to the representatives of six organizations of Moran community at a meeting held at his conference hall at Janata Bhawan.

In a separate meeting held with the delegates of Sadou Asom Chutia Santha, the Chief Minister assured of considering the issue of declaring Sati Sadhani Divas as government holiday. He also said that the State government would spend Rs 125 crore for generating self-employment opportunities for Chutia community youths, infrastructure development, preservation of monuments and archaeological heritage. An educational institute in the name of Sati Sadhini would also be set up while allotting fund for erecting busts of Sati Sadhini in the Chutia community dominated areas.

Speaking in both the meetings, the Chief Minister said that the State government had been working resolutely for the all round development of indigenous communities of the State and strong steps had been taken for their socio-cultural and economic development. He also urged the communities to give proposals to the government for ushering in their rapid development through implementation of ‘Bhasha Gaurab’ scheme. He also stressed the need to uphold the spirit of unity and harmony among all the communities of the state.

Minister of Finance, Health, PWD etc Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking at the meetings, stated that the people would come to know about the steps taken for implementation of the decisions taken in today’s meetings in the coming few days. Problems of each community had been taken notice by the government and efforts were already made to find solutions to these problems, he said.

MLAs Bolin Chetia, Dr. Ranuj Pegu, Bimal Bora, Commissioner and Secretary of Plains and Other Backward Classes Development Department Dr. M. Angamutthu, Secretary to the Chief Minister Ranjan Chakrabarty were also present at the meeting.

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