Tribal groups seek to evict settlers

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 24:  Demanding eviction of suspected tiols from tribal belts and blocks, filling up of backlog vacancies meant for STs, distribution of regular LP teacher’s posts meant for ST (P) of tribal populated districts and appointment of TET qualified ST candidates, the Coordition Committee of the Tribal Organization of Assam (CCTOA), an umbrella organizations of 19 tribal bodies, staged a massive protest near Dighalipukhuri here on Thursday. The organization also submitted a memorandum to the State Government.

“The state government should carry out an eviction drive to evict all illegal settlers from tribal belts and blocks. It has to restore all the lost tribal lands and return them to the legal owners of those lands as per UN Dhebor Commission Report 1960. Two representatives from All Assam Tribal Sangha must be appointed in all the district and sub-divisiol level land advisory committees (LAC) of Assam. The tribal people will be benefited if new tribal belts and blocks covering tribal population are created and tribal sub plan areas covering tribal populated revenue villages are created,” CCTOA chief coorditor Aditya Khakkhlari told reporters.

“Keeping an account of large scale deprivation of scheduled tribes (plains and hills) communities in direct recruitment and promotion by State Government departments, a cabinet decision may kindly be accorded for modification of the office memorandum dated August 3, so that 12155 backlog vacancies meant for STs/SCs are filled up. It is possible with a special drive and implementation of Assam SC’s and STs (RVSP) act, 1978 for maintaining balance between all categories as per judgment of the Supreme Court in RK Sabharwal case. The State Government should issue specific guidelines to all departments to fill up the existing backlog vacancies,” Khakhlari said.

“There is also having been large scale deprivation in appointment of 547 ST (P) TET qualified candidates in lower primary level in three districts of Barak Valley in the me medium of instruction. We demand 547 numbers of regular LP teachers posts meant for ST (P) shall not be de-reserved at any cost. We want regular distribution of the 547 regular LP teacher’s posts to tribal populated districts of Brahmaputra Valley and appointment of TET qualified ST (P) candidates against these posts,” Khakhlari added.