AASAA voices concern for Adivasi people in Karbi Anglong

From a Correspondent

Bokajan, January 11: Around 200 activists of All Adivasi Student Association of Assam (AASAA) Karbi Anglong District Committee (KADC) on Monday staged a mass demonstration in front of the SDO(C) office, Bokajan, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Adivasi people of Assam and ST (Hills) status for those residing in the Sixth Schedule areas such as Karbi Anglong.

Later, the demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the SDO(C) pressing for speedy and time-bound solution to the burning problems of the Adivasis residing in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The memorandum drew the attention of the Chief Minister towards a conspiracy to elimite the Adivasis from Karbi Anglong by illegally encroaching upon their land, which if not checked, would lead to commul unrest in the near future.

The memorandum also stated that equal opportunities should be provided to the Adivasis residing in Karbi Anglong in terms of government appointments, development schemes, IAY schemes and demanded that the daily wage of the tea labourers should be raised to Rs 200 with all basic facilities like ration, drinking water, education and health care. The memorandum also drew the attention of the Chief Minister towards a long-standing demand for construction of Adivasi boys and girls hostel, one each at Diphu, Bokajan, Dokmoka and Howraghat. They also demanded that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) should take proper initiative and provide the necessary required land in this regard.

AASAA further demanded a CBI enquiry against the Tuliram Ronghang-led Congress government of KAAC for handing over the Lahorijan TE to Pele Angamy of Kohima, and also pressed for the immediate rehabilitation of the staff and labourers by establishing a Adivasi model village at Lahorijan TE, the memorandum added.