Centre sets up committee to look into modalities

ST status to six ethnic communities

A CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, Feb 29: The Centre on Monday sets up a committee headed by special secretary interl secretary to look into the modalities for granting ST status to the six ethnic communities of the Assam.

The committee will submit its report within next three months.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajth Singh at North Block.  The meeting decided to grant ST status to six communities like Moran, Motok, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi, Tea Tribes and Tai Ahom.

The meeting was attended, amongst other, by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare Sarbanda Sonowal, BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma, Bijoya Chakraborty among others.

“Granting ST status to the six communities and BJP’s political promise and it will be fulfilled. I will also change the modalities necessary for the status, if needed,” said Rijiju.

He said that ST status will be given within next three months.

“Now the matter will be looked by the Home Ministry and not by the tribal affairs ministry…a notification in this regard will be published tomorrow,” said Rijiju adding, “Assam is a special case, and it will be taken care of.”

In an earlier occasion, the government especially the Tribal Affairs Ministry has promised to give ST status to six communities by amending the modalities.

Earlier in the day, Koch Rajbongshi supporters staged protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding ST status. A Koch Rajbongshi woman also tonsured her head in support of their demand.