Hundreds of members of the Kalita community gathered for a significant protest in Nalbari on October 26, advocating for their recognition as a Scheduled Tribe and their inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The rally was organized by the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan and began at the Government Higher Secondary School playground, with participants marching through the streets, brandishing banners and placards that highlighted their demands: “Land for Kalitas, Justice for Kalitas” and “Education is Our Right.” The demonstration united students, community leaders, and social activists, all voicing the community’s longstanding issues regarding land rights, access to education, and constitutional protections.
During the protest, leaders from the Sanmilan made it clear that their movement is not politically driven but is focused on securing fundamental legal and constitutional rights for the Kalita community. They cautioned that if the government does not respond promptly, the agitation could escalate throughout the state.
This demonstration closely followed the submission of a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 25, wherein the community urged the government to formally recognize them as a Scheduled Tribe. The memorandum outlines decades of efforts to gain this recognition, including reaching out to the President of India in 1988, petitions to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015, and meetings with key officials such as Rajnath Singh in 2016.
The memorandum also pointed out that despite these ongoing efforts, the Assam government has yet to form the expert committee necessary to review their requests. The Sanmilan called on the Chief Minister to swiftly establish this committee, evaluate the pertinent documents, and facilitate a unanimous resolution in the Assam Legislative Assembly to send to the Central Government for consideration.
With a calm yet urgent plea, the Sanmilan reiterated the need for immediate government action to protect the legal, educational, and land rights of the Kalita community, emphasizing the critical nature of their demands.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-kalita-community-stages-massive-protest-in-nalbari-demanding-land-education-rights-1295538-2025-10-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-10-26 21:50:00
