AASAA stages dhar to demand ST status for Adivasis

From a Correspondent

MARGHERITA, July 12: Activists of All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) on Tuesday staged dhar in front of the office gate of Tinsukia District Deputy Commissioner.

The dhar was staged under the initiative of AASAA Tinsukia district committee along with AASAA regiol committee members. More than 100 activists of AASAA took part in the dhar and shouted various slogans for granting ST status to Adivasis people living in Assam.

Ramanus Lakra, general secretary of AASAA Tinsukia District Committee, said that AASAA had been demanding for inclusion of Adivasi people living in Assam in the list of  Scheduled Tribes (ST) but they had been deprived of their basic rights. “There are total 80 lakh Adivasi people living in Assam, which is one- fourth of Assam’s population but even today Adivasi people are one of the most deprived, exploited and neglected people of Assam,” said Ramanus Lakra. AASAA has also demanded separate economic annual package for Adivasi Development Council from the Central Government, he added.  A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister through the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner.