All Rabha Students' Union's clarion call to Assam government

 'We are indigenous people, ensure our protection'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All Rabha Students' Union (ARSU) has made a clarion call to the Assam Government to take immediate steps for the resolution of the problems faced by the Rabha community, one of the indigenous communities of the State. Else, the ARSU will be compelled to tread the path of agitation.

Talking to The Sentinel, ARSU president Nripen Khanda said, "The Rabha community supports the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)-led alliance government in the State. The Assam Government keeps assuring verbally that it will take steps for the protection and development of the Rabha community. However, in reality, no such steps have been taken as yet. This has forced us to think that perhaps the government is not serious about solving the problems of the community.

"It does not matter to us which party is in power. The Rabha community will support the party which has a sympathetic approach towards the community and takes concrete steps to solve the problems faced by the community. If the present State Government does not resolve the issues of the Rabha community soon, we will be compelled to officially express our resentment."

Khanda further said that unless the government took steps for the protection and development of the community before January 26, 2023, the ARSU would be left with no other option but to announce a democratic agitation. One of the main demands of the ARSU is that the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) should be given Sixth Schedule status. The other demand is that the government should constitute a separate Rabha development council for the protection of the Rabha community people who live outside the RHAC jurisdiction area. "We are the indigenous people of Assam. The government should ensure our protection and take the community forward," said Khanda.

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