Hundreds of members of the Kalita community protested in Nalbari, Assam, on Sunday, October 26, demanding recognition as a Scheduled Tribe and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The demonstration, organized by the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan, began at the Government Higher Secondary School playground and proceeded through the streets of Nalbari.
Protesters carried banners and placards bearing slogans like “Land for Kalitas, Justice for Kalitas” and “Education is Our Right.” The rally attracted students, community leaders, and social activists, all of whom emphasized longstanding issues regarding land rights, access to education, and constitutional protections.
Leaders of the Sanmilan stated that the protest is aimed at securing legal and constitutional rights, rather than political advantages. They warned that the movement could expand across the state if the government fails to respond to their demands.
This protest came on the heels of a memorandum submitted to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 25, seeking Scheduled Tribe recognition. The memorandum detailed previous efforts, including appeals to the President in 1988 and submissions to the Union Ministries of Tribal Affairs and Home Affairs in 2015, along with meetings with senior officials such as Rajnath Singh in 2016.
According to the Sanmilan, the Assam government has yet to establish the expert committee responsible for reviewing these submissions. They urged the Chief Minister to form this committee promptly, review the documents, pass a unanimous resolution in the Assam Legislative Assembly, and forward it to the Central Government for approval.
The group highlighted the urgent need for action to safeguard the legal, educational, and land rights of the Kalita community.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-kalita-community-protests-in-nalbari-demanding-scheduled-tribe-status.html
Category: Assam,Northeast News,Top News,Nalbari,protest,Scheduled Tribes
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Publish Date: 2025-10-26 23:41:00
