Assam moves a step closer to decision on ST status for 6 communities

Six communities, which are currently part of the state’s Other Backward Classes list and comprise around 27% of Assam’s population – the Tai Ahoms, tea tribes or Adivasis, Moran, Motok, Chutia and Koch-Rajbongshi – have long been agitating for the grant of ST status, and organisations of all six communities have been holding mass demonstrations in the past two months, building pressure on the government ahead of the upcoming elections.

At the same time, the state has also been witnessing counter-protests by organisations representing communities already notified as ST in the state.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, a bill proposing to include these six communities in Assam’s ST list was introduced in the Rajya Sabha but was neither discussed nor passed. Based on the Home Ministry directions, the Group of Ministers was constituted that year – and reconstituted twice since – “to determine quantum of reservation for six communities in the State, suggest revised quantum of reservation for OBCs after creation of a new ST category in Assam and measures ensuring full safeguard to protect the interests, rights and privileges of the existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam”.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government is ready to table the report of the GOM – headed by Ranoj Pegu, and including Keshab Mahanta and Pijush Hazarika – in the assembly.

“The cabinet has approved the report. And we expect this report will be able to represent the aspirations of the six communities and, at the same time, that we will be able to fulfil the aspirations without losses to the existing tribal communities,” he said.

He said that the report will be shared with the assembly and that the government will request the Speaker that it be tabled during the course of the ongoing winter session, which will end on November 21, after which it will be sent to the Union Home Ministry.