Human chain in Tangla demands ST status for Adivasi community

A Correspondent

TANGLA: In protest against the non-fulfillment of prolonged demands and issues plaguing the Adivasi community, the Udalguri chapter of All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) staged a human chain protest on Tuesday along the Udalguri-Tamulpur road in Paneri of Udalguri district against the government for not paying heed to their demand for Scheduled Tribe status to the Adivasi community.

Hundreds of protesters holding placards formed a human chain in a symbolic display of unity among the community. Nearly 600 Adivasi tea garden workers from neighbouring tea estates like Bamunjuli, Paneri, Hattigarh, Orangajuli and Majuli gathered to form the human chain along the road without interrupting the traffic for two hours.

“It was to show the government that we all are united and nothing can break us in pressing the government for our constitutional rights and most importantly, we are peaceful,” said Laxman Porja, a protester.

“Our brothers and sisters in other States are recognized as Scheduled Tribes whereas we have been deprived of the ST status since Independence. How can there be two separate identities of a community in a country?” said another protester, Durpoti Lohar.

“We are not demanding Adivasi land, we are demanding ST status for the Adivasis living in Assam for years. The previous government betrayed us and we have great hope in the present government,” said president of Udalguri chapter of AASAA, Robin Goala.

“Our generations have immensely contributed to the economic growth of the nation by working in tea gardens for minimum wages, but despite this our voices are being neglected by the successive governments,” rued vice-president of Udalguri chapter AASAA, Khagen Tanti.

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