Tribal organisations in Assam have voiced their objections to the proposed granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six additional communities. On Thursday, they presented their “interim objections and suggestions” to the state government, emphasizing their refusal to support any decision that may jeopardize the protections currently in place for existing ST groups.
The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) serves as an umbrella body for over 20 groups that represent various recognized ST communities. The committee has called on the government to engage in a tripartite discussion involving state authorities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to further the dialogue on this issue.
Recently, a Group of Ministers (GoM) submitted an interim report to the state assembly, outlining recommendations on the long-awaited demand for ST status from the Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribe (Adivasi) communities. The CCTOA has led protests against the GoM’s findings, asserting that the existing ST communities could face negative impacts if these six groups are included in the reservation category.
“We have expressed our concerns to ensure that the rights and benefits of existing ST communities are not compromised. We have requested amendments to the interim report,” stated CCTOA leader Aditya Khakhlary. He mentioned that the committee has submitted a preliminary set of objections and plans to provide a comprehensive final report after consultations with various stakeholders, expected within a month.
Khakhlary further indicated that the CCTOA seeks to initiate talks with the chief minister next, followed by a meeting involving the state government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah later on. He raised concerns regarding the GoM’s proposal to establish a new ST (Valley) category for some of the six communities, arguing it fails to protect the interests of current ST groups. He noted that at the central level, all Scheduled Tribes are considered within a single reservation pool for jobs, education, and other benefits.
“We now have ST (Plains) and ST (Hills) as two categories in the state, but at the central level, both are combined as ST. If ST (Valley) is introduced, these groups will also be integrated into the same ST pool nationally,” Khakhlary explained.
He stressed the necessity for a “very strict and reliable” system of identification and verification if the new communities are recognized, to ensure only eligible individuals receive benefits. “We remain hopeful. The GoM must make sure that the aboriginal communities do not suffer any loss,” he added.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/assam/assam-tribal-bodies-submit-interim-objections-suggestions-to-st-status-move-for-6-communities/37229/
Category: Assam,Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA),Scheduled Tribe (ST) status
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Publish Date: 2025-12-05 10:40:00
