Assam: Eviction is key to safeguarding indigenous people, says ATASU

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) president Basanta Gogoi said that the eviction drive currently underway in the state is the key to the safeguards of indigenous people of Assam.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Gogoi said, “The government needs to free all lands from encroachers, let alone forest lands. Encroachers have been out to change the demography in upper Assam as well. What we want is that the government needs to identify Bangladeshis among the encroachers and deport them. We welcome the eviction drive. However, we won’t refrain from criticizing the government if we find that the eviction drive has a political motive behind it.”

On the prevention of ‘aggression’ by immigrants, Gogoi said, “The government has to accord ST status to the six ethnic communities – Morans, Mottocks, Tai Ahoms, Tea Tribes (Adivasis), Koch Rajbongshis and the Chutias. This is apart from the introduction of ILP (Inner Line Permit) in the state and the implementation of each and every section of Clause VI of the Assam Accord.”

On preventing fresh encroachment, Gogoi said, “The public needs to keep their eyes wide open to see if any of the evicted people encroach upon fresh areas. As an organization, we’re also alert to keep an eye on fresh encroachment. We’re also keeping an eye on the roles of various parties and organizations in this regard. It is high time we took a tough stand against encroachers to secure the future of Assam.”

On work culture, Gogoi said, “The indigenous people have to place more importance on work culture. The indigenous youth of the state need to have a good grip over all sorts of works, right from agricultural works to small-time jobs in the unorganized sector. We’ve already started an awareness campaign to this effect. We’ve talked to the brick kiln owners of Sivasagar and requested them not to engage workers from lower Assam. We’ve facilitated the local youths to raise fingerlings for fisheries, piggeries, etc. We’ve several plans at hand to grow work culture among the indigenous people in upper Assam.”

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