Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Forms Panel To Assess Condition Of Tea Tribes In Assam

RANCHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, after being sworn in for the 4th time, announced the formation of a panel to look into the condition of tea tribes in Assam. The decision was made during the very first cabinet meeting of his new government.

Soren highlighted that many people from Jharkhand, particularly members of indigenous tribes, have settled in Assam over the years but are now facing marginalization, stating, “In Assam, tribes from Jharkhand are being marginalized. A large number of original inhabitants of Jharkhand are residing there. We have decided that an all-party panel will study the ground situation there. The panel will submit its report to the Jharkhand government.”

Soren already promised earlier to address the tea tribes’ concerns but is now seen by some as a strategic response to political rivalries with the BJP-led NDA, particularly in the context of recent electoral tensions.

The JMM-led coalition, led by Soren, recently secured a significant victory in the state elections, winning 56 out of 81 assembly seats, while the BJP-led NDA managed to claim 24.

It is worth noting that the tea tribes in Assam, originally brought from central India, including Jharkhand, during the colonial era to work on tea plantations, face numerous socio-economic challenges even today. Despite their significant contributions to Assam’s economy, they remain marginalized, grappling with poverty, illiteracy, and inadequate access to healthcare and education.

Many members of the community lack proper land ownership rights and live in poorly developed areas with limited infrastructure. Furthermore, they often face social discrimination and struggle for political representation, which hinders their ability to voice their grievances effectively.

These issues, compounded by the lack of recognition as Scheduled Tribes in Assam, leave them excluded from various welfare schemes that could uplift their standard of living.

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