Meanwhile, Hlima Keivom, President of N C Hills Indigenous Forum, student wing of Indigenous People Forum (IPF) said ‘The Government of Assam has changed the neutral name of the district from North Cachar Hills into Dima Hasao on 30th March, 2010, amidst stiff opposition of the non-Dimasa communities. The literal meaning of “Dima Hasao” is a land of Dimasa. But in reality the N. C. Hills is a land of many ethnic communities since time immemorial’
He further added ‘before any peace pact for a Territorial Council or whatsoever is signed by the government with the militant group of the DHD(J), the concerned government should not make another big mistake as it had done in the past.
The government should rather first consider the demand of the IPF to bifurcate the district into two autonomous district with separate autonomous Councils under the very constitutional framework of Art 244(2) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.’
