Minister Ranoj Pegu promises Constitutional status for tribal panels

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam's Minister for Welfare of Plains Tribes & Backward Classes (WPT&BC) Ranoj Pegu has assured that the State Government will complete the process of providing Constitutional status to those tribal autonomous councils of Assam which are not included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

According to Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) chief coordinator Aditya Khakhlari, the Minister gave this assurance at a meeting at the Janata Bhawan here on Wednesday, where various issues pertaining to the tribal communities of Assam were discussed.

Khakhlari said that the CCTOA submitted a memorandum to Pegu which contained a charter of 12 demands.

These demands included, among others, authorization of the All Assam Tribal Sangha as the identifying authority of recognised Scheduled Tribes (both Plains and Hills) for issuance of Caste Certificates through the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers, along with simplification of the standard procedures for issuance of ST certificate by the WPT&BC Department.

The CCTOA further demanded that the Karbis living in the Plains districts of Assam and Bodos, Meches, Rabhas living in the Hills areas ne recognized as Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India.

The organization also demanded that a Cabinet decision be taken within a short time so that the existing 12,155 numbers of backlog vacancies meant for STs are filled up.

The CCTOA demanded that the State Government carry out an eviction drive to evict encroachers, non-bona fide outsiders and illegal industries from Tribal Belts and Blocks..

The CCTOA also urged the Government to conduct a special drive by organizing a Gramin Rajah Adalat' to issue land pattas to tribal families.

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