Include all 108 sub-castes in ST Bill: Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha to Centre

* Tea communities carry out Pratarana Divas across State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) has alleged that the Centre is trying to bring about a rift among the tea tribe community in the State. It demanded that all the sub-castes of the community be included in the ST Bill. To voice its protest, the organization carried out ‘Pratarana Divas’ (Day of Betrayal) in the tea gardens across the State on Wednesday. The ACMS units burnt effigies of the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, and the Union Tribal Affairs Minister during their stir.

Talking to The Sentinel, ACMS general secretary Rupesh Gowala said, “It’s strange that the Central Government has chosen to leave out the majority of the tea community from the ambit of the Bill that has been already placed in the Parliament. It is recommending the names of only 36 of the total 108 sub-castes of the tea community in Assam to be included in the proposed list of Scheduled Tribes.”

Castigating the Central Government for bringing in the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to “only some of the tea tribes in the State”, Gowala added, “Delhi is using this as a strategy to divide the community to rule it.”

Questioning the move of the Central government, Gowala pointed out, “The earlier government had recommended to the Centre the names of 96 sub-castes of the community for consideration as STs. The Centre must include all the 108 sub-castes in the Bill.”

ACMS vice-president Raju Sahu said, “We welcome the move to grant the ST status to the other five communities namely the Tai Ahoms, Mataks, Morans, Chutias and the Koch Rajbongshis,” adding that “the tea community cannot be compared with them as they had a royal connection.”

“The forefathers of the tea community were brought to Assam during the British raj. This community has been contributing to the economy of the State since then through its involvement in the tea sector. Despite this fact, the community has been deprived of its due shares,” Sahu stated.

The ACMS warned that it would continue its agitation till the Centre provides ST status to all the 108 sub-castes of the tea community in Assam.

Also read: Government trying to divide Adivasis: Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha