The Assam government announced on October 23 the exemption of tribal communities, including tea tribes, Morans, and Motoks, from the two-child policy that limits government job eligibility. This decision aims to protect these communities from the risk of gradual extinction.
During a press conference following a state cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the cabinet resolved to exempt these communities from the child restriction outlined in the population policy. He stressed that adherence to the policy could lead these populations to lose their distinctive identities within the next 50 years. The Moran community, for instance, has a population estimated at around 100,000, and social scientists have suggested that relaxing the two-child norm is critical for the survival of such small communities.
Sarma emphasized that while the two-child policy, enacted in January 2021 under the Assam Public Services Rules of 2019, remains in effect for other communities, it will not be enforced for these indigenous groups to ensure their preservation. He further clarified that the government intends to implement the two-child policy gradually for accessing specific state welfare benefits, though exemptions for these groups will apply.
In addition to this announcement, Sarma revealed that the Tiwari Commission Report on the 1983 Nellie massacre will be presented at the upcoming assembly session in November. He noted that the report had not been tabled earlier due to missing signatures from the commission chairman, which the government verified through interviews and forensic checks.
The Chief Minister also shared plans to amend the Land Ceiling Act to allocate approximately 2.9 lakh bighas (nearly 96,000 acres) of land to four lakh tea tribe families, labeling this a major social development initiative.
Moreover, the cabinet approved an increase in the project cost for Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd’s 500 TPD Methanol plant and 200 TPD Formalin unit, raising the budget from Rs 1,709.18 crore to Rs 2,267.22 crore, including additional equity from the state government.
This initiative by the Assam government marks a crucial step forward in preserving the identities and livelihoods of vulnerable indigenous communities while continuing broader development efforts.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-scraps-two-child-norm-for-tribals-tea-tribes-morans-and-motoks-1294421-2025-10-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-10-23 23:03:00
