An interim report prepared by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities in Assam was tabled in the Assembly on Saturday, the concluding day of the winter session.
The report recommended a three-tier classification of Scheduled Tribes in the state, in response to longstanding demands for ST recognition from the Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis).
Tribal Affairs (Plains) Minister Ranoj Pegu, who chaired the three-member GoM, laid the report in the House. It stated that the committee had examined ways of granting ST status to the six communities without disrupting reservation benefits currently available to existing tribal groups.
As part of the proposed restructuring, the GoM suggested the creation of a new category titled ‘ST (Valley)’, recommending the inclusion of the Ahom, Chutia, Tea Tribes and Koch-Rajbongshi (excluding the undivided Goalpara district) under this classification.
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For the Moran and Matak communities and Koch-Rajbongshi members from Goalpara district, the report proposed their inclusion under the existing ‘ST (Plains)’ category, adding that this should not adversely affect the communities already listed in this group.
Only limited copies of the interim report were made available, with legislative party leaders and members of the GoM receiving sealed copies.
Opposition parties demanded that the House take up an immediate discussion on the document. The Speaker, however, said the matter could be scheduled for debate on another occasion.
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