Tribal Bodies Threaten Indefinite Stir Against Assam Governments’ Move

‘ST STATUS’ TO SIX COMMUNITIES OF ASSAM

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: To oppose the proposed move by the Central and the State governments to grant the ST (Scheduled Tribe) status to six communities of Assam, the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) has threatened to call “indefinite Assam Bandh” if the Union government introduces the ‘Constitution (ST) Order (Amendment) Bill-2019’ in the ensuing Parliament session. The organization will also file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) challenging the Constitutional validity of the governments’ move. Further, the CCTOA has decided to stage a protest demonstration over the issue in front of the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 10.

Addressing the media here on Friday, CCTOA chief coordinator Aditya Khaklari — in the presence of other leaders of the organization – said, “The governments are fooling the six communities over the ST status issue.”

Referring to the discussions between a delegation of the All Assam Tribal Sangha and top leaders of the Central government in New Delhi between November 21 to 26, Khaklari said that the Central government leaders were rather adamant on bringing in the ‘Constitution (ST) Order (Amendment) Bill-2019’.

Khaklari stressed, “The six communities of Assam — Morans, Mataks, Chutias, Tai Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, and the tea community — have never been considered as tribes by any government or anthropological study. Besides, they do not possess any characteristics of the tribals including educational and economic backwardnesses.”

The CCTOA leader further pointed out, “The proposed inclusion of the six communities in the list of STs is malafide, and it shall eliminate the very concept of ‘tribals’ in India.” He added, “Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue (Regulation) Act of 1886 protects the land rights of the tribals from the non-tribals such as the Mataks, Morans, Chutias, and the Tai Ahoms. These commnuities were not considered as STs under the above mentioned Act, and the Constitution (ST) Order of 1950; and at no point of time during the last 73 years since Independence of the country.”

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