Assam Assembly passed three autonomous council Bills

GUWAHATI: The Assam Assembly passed three autonomous council Bills – the Moran Autonomous Council Bill, Matak Autonomous Council Bill and the Kamatapur Autonomous Council Bill — on Thursday amidst 'in-principle support' from the Opposition. The only objection from the Opposition was on the term 'Kamatapur'.

Placing the three Bills in the House, State WPT&BC (Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes) Minister Chandan Brahma said, "The passage of these three Bills will have much to do with the welfare of the Marans, the Mataks and the Koch-Rajbongshis."

Meanwhile, raising an objection to the term 'Kamatapur', the Opposition posed, "Why has the name 'Kamatapur' been chosen for the autonomous area instead of naming it on the ethic community 'Koch-Rajbongshi'? The word 'Kamatapur' indicates a 'territory'. Since there has been a demand for a separate 'Kamatapur State', the creation of the 'Kamatapur Autonomous Council' may create problems in the future.

"There are more Koch-Rajbongshis in areas outside the proposed 'Kamatapur Autonomous Council'. What'll be their fate? They won't be able to get the benefits under this autonomous council. Are the three autonomous councils a move to weaken the demand for ST status to the six ethnic groups? The government should make its stand clear as to when the 'ST status' will be accorded to the six ethnic groups."

In his reply, Minister Brahma said, "The term 'Kamatapur' mentioned in the Bill refers to the remaining areas excluding the BTAD and the Rabha-Hasong Autonomous Council. The benefits of the autonomous council will be accrued by people residing within this area which will be within the undivided Goalpara district. It's a wrong notion that the three autonomous council Bills have been cleared to weaken the demand for the ST status by the six ethnic groups. The process for the ST status is at its final stage."

Then, Rashid Mandal (Congress) said, "The total Koch-Rajbongshi population in the State is 70 lakh, but the area to be covered by the proposed Kamatapur Autonomous Council has a Koch-Rajbongshi population of around three lakh. Won't it be discrimination to the Koch-Rajbongshis residing outside the autonomous area? They need to be given such benefits through satellite councils."

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